SARAH NABARRO

Sarah Nabarro’s recent work draws inspiration from a mix of Taoist philosophy and Jungian ideas around the psyche. Sarah is primarily curious about the Taoist concept of “the uncarved block” – pure potential and possibility – and the emphasis on flow over effort, in order that we may exist in alignment with Nature. She uses the journey of coloured water across canvas as the starting point for her paintings, finding images in the traces the water leaves and using only ink and neutral coloured paint to bring these images to light. The paintings that emerge reveal both aspects of the artist’s own psyche and also archetypes and characters from a more collective consciousness found in myth and legend. The balance between intention and its lack reflects the collaborative nature of the creative process – one in which human and water may both be viewed as “artist”. 

Sarah is a London-based painter, with a background in Set and Costume Design as well as Arts Therapies. She previously read Social Anthropology at Cambridge University. She has shown in various group and solo exhibitions over the years, including The Times Watercolour Exhibition, Ashurst Emerging Artist Prize shortlist, The Discerning Eye, and The Society of Women Artists. She has also, previously, been shortlisted for the NOAC Competition. Her work is held in private collections in the UK and the USA.

SELECTED EXHIBITIONS:

Nostalgia, Group show, Art Number 23, The Misc. Arts Centre, Romania (July 2018)

Doorways, Bath Fringe Arts Festival, Bath (May 2018)

Nostalgia, Group show, Art Number 23, Toon Amsterdam (May 2018)

Solo show (paintings and drawings), Front Room Cafe (Mar-Jun 2018)

Group show with Oaktree and Tiger Gallery, Ashurst (Jan-Mar 2018)

A Love Letter to Myself (solo exhibition), Ma-Wah Gallery (Oct-Nov 2017)

Electric Open, Electric Picture House (Oct-Nov 2017)

Surprising Things (solo exhibition), CueB Gallery (Mar-Apr 2017)

In Translation, Espacio Gallery (April 2016)

Confluence, Espacio Gallery (October 2015)

The Times Watercolour Exhibition, Mall Galleries (2015)

Ashurst Emerging Artist Prize Shortlist, Ashurst London (2015)

In the Comfort of Shadows (solo exhibition), MMX Gallery (2015)

The Discerning Eye, Annual Art Exhibition, Mall Galleries (2014)

Society of Women Artists, Open Exhibition, Mall Galleries (2014)

Zeitgeist Summer Exhibition, Zeitgeist Art Projects (2014)

Blink Pop Up, Blink Pop Up Arts (2014)

COMPETITIONS:

Shortlisted for the NOAC exhibition (2014)

AWARDS:

Ashurst Emerging Artist Prize Shortlist (2015)

Showdown Shortlist, Saatchi Online (2013)

RESIDENCIES:

Stiwdio Maelor, Corris, Wales, 2018