About Me

WELCOME TO MY WEBSITE

I am an artist and printmaker based in Leicester, in the heart of the East Midlands. Since graduating from a Fine Art Degree in 1984 and being a member of the Leicester Society of Artists, I have been working as a professional printmaker producing work for my portfolio, commercial illustrations and private commissions. Over the past 35 years I have also been involved in working with museums, art collections and a number of Art Residencies and I am thrilled to have had the opportunity to regularly exhibit work with fellow artists, both locally and nationally throughout the UK.

My father was a botanist and I grew up in the centre of Cambridge next door to the Botanic Gardens, which we would walk through on the way to our allotment on summer evenings – all of which laid the foundations for an enduring interest and love of plants, buildings, special places and the way we value and order the spaces we create – which in turn has formed continual reference and subject matter in my life as an artist.

A large part of my work features the buildings in and around Leicester that are part of the fabric of city life. These are a mix of iconic public buildings (such as New Walk Museum or the Market Place) and those more familiar yet nevertheless architecturally notable (such as Blunts Shoes or the Turkey Café).

Much of my work explores how buildings are imbued with meaning as a consequence of repeated use across different generations; how they acquire emotional significance for local inhabitants; and how they become repositories of memory. With so many inspirational buildings in and around my city, my work with iconic landmarks is ongoing…

In recent years I have also looked deeper into the emotional and historical importance of gardens, green spaces and the countryside, within which buildings often play a key role. Plants, gardens and indeed my own allotments are very close to my heart, not only being my inspiration but also my solace. Recent studies in this vein feature Stoneywell, the Ernest Gimson Arts & Crafts property recently acquired by the National Trust and the beautiful landscape of Launde Abbey in Rutland, with its ancient woodland and rolling hills providing the perfect backdrop to the stunning building and kitchen gardens.

In addition to my external exhibitions, each Autumn I host an Open Studio Weekend – it’s an informal showcase of my work together with the work of a few fellow artist friends. If you would like to receive an invitation to future events please contact me at sarah@sarahkirby.co.uk and I will add you to the invitation list.