28 September 2019 09:24 AM
When Sarah Duffield left Chichester University in 1999 with a degree in fine art and creative writing, it was the latter path that she chose to take. She also moved to Brighton, married and started a family. “Probably because of the `moving, getting married and starting a family thing` and perhaps because I wasn’t actually very good at it, the writing thing didn’t work”, she says. It was a move to what was to become part of the South Downs National Park, just outside Steyning, that prompted her to begin working where she’d left off at university. “The sweeping landscapes, stunning sunsets and changing seasons inspired me”, she says.
In the ten years since rekindling her passion she has become a full-time artist and developed her distinctive style. Last year Horsham Council recognised this achievement by commissioning Sarah to paint four landscapes as part of its Year of Culture. As a result she spent a month travelling the district, talking to people, discovering beautiful place and learning that you need to break walking boots in before you tramp for miles in them. The landscapes chosen for her brush were those that would be familiar to many residents: Knepp estate and ruin, the view from Beeding Hill, the Arun and chalk pits in Amberley and Chesworth Farm in Horsham.
The finished works can be seen in an exhibition called Colourful Places which opens today at Horsham Museum and lasts until the 14th of December and Sarah herself will be at the museum from midday on the 5th of October to answer any questions about her art.
Our picture shows one of the works entitled Looking West, which shows the view from Beeding Hill. Click here to see another view of it – we know which one we`d rather have on our wall.
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