Sarah Stuart

I grew up on the Isle of Wight and formed a strong bond with the sea and coast from a very early age. I would spend hours collecting things on the shore, and the sounds of the wind and waves somehow became embedded within me.

I have drawn and painted things since childhood, but only in later life after starting my own family have I needed to express my love for the sea and land in this way. Beginning as many artists do with realism, I produced very detailed drawings and paintings of the places I loved. With time I realised that I needed to become more expressive and use bigger, looser gestures in order to feel happy in my art practice again. The transition from years of accuracy and tight representation was extremely difficult however, and involved a very steep learning curve and patience!
I now intend my works to stir subliminal memories and emotions, allowing people to respond individually, based on their own lives and experiences. I want viewers to ‘feel’ a painting and not simply ‘see’.

Originally I had left school to attend Art college in Southampton, but my career took a different path, ending up becoming a bioscientist for many years. I remained an artist at heart however and never stopped drawing and painting, and as soon as possible moved back to the beautiful Island I had missed so much. Once settled I was eventually able to return to art full time.
I have shown at several different galleries, and currently have works in Seaview Gallery in the East Wight.
I take part in the Isle of Wight Open Studios each year. The challenge of putting on an exhibition is always fun when sharing space with other artists. My solo exhibition at Quarr Abbey in the autumn last year was a great success in a stunning setting and this October 2026 I'm going to be exhibiting in the Quay Gallery at the very beautiful Snape Maltings in Suffolk.

My studio is near the sea in the Southwest Wight where I am based, producing semi abstract expressive paintings. I use a mix of media involving both painting and drawing techniques. Acrylic paint dries quickly and allows for a rapid laying down of the initial strokes to represent a setting or moment I'm painting about, be it calm and tranquil or noisy with roaring high seas and gales. I tend to let the painting decide where it's going, as patterns and shapes gradually appear in the initial layers. I then work into them and use other media to add and remove marks, slowly building textures and effects. Each piece is unique just as nature has so many subtleties.
The wild seas and cliffs along this undeveloped coastline can take your breath away. I love simply being there, standing in the landscape, looking, listening, feeling.
My artworks bring you into that moment, a connection to that place that feels alive.