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SPORTING ARTIST: Sarah Leigh
AREA: South East
EMPLOYMENT: Professional artist
MEDIA: Water colour, acrylic, pastels, graphite
ARTICLE TITLE: Making the leap
Sarah Leigh studied art at school and art college but ended up in the mundane
world of office administration. She did however keep drawing and painting in her
spare time never thinking it could turn into a realistic career.
After four years working for a publishing company, an electronics importer and
wholesaler events she thought more and more of her dream of painting wildlife,
full-time.
A major local charity event near her Kent home, was looking for items for a
fundraising auction. When approached she suggested offering a painting of her
partner’s dog “Charlie”.
Charlie was a special dog, a character loved by everyone who met him in the pubs
and around the community. On auction day bidding was intense and Charlie’s
portrait sold for a whopping £200. The losing bidder was so disappointed he
commissioned a duplicate painting - paying a further £200!
Over the following two years Sarah was continually approached by friends and
their friends to commission her for birthday and Christmas gifts.
“I couldn’t believe it. People actually wanted to pay me money for the thing I
love doing most.”
Sarah soon realised that perhaps there was an alternative to a life of desk
work. At the end of 2004 she decided to go professional as a fulltime artist.
She hasn’t looked back since, with commissions ranging from beloved pets and
working animals to child portraits.
“The secret is to discuss with customers exactly what they want - to ensure that
the finished work captures the spirit of their animal. I’ll work from old
photographs, particularly where pets have died. But more often than not
customers are pleased that I’ll visit them to take quality images from which I
can work.
“I work in a range of mediums including acrylic, water colour, pastel or
graphite – whatever the customer desires.”
Business has been brisk, with a constant stream of commissions, nationwide and
even from abroad
“Yes I’ve marketed myself both locally and through the internet. The internet
has really paid off - with several commissions via my website. To my great
surprise I’m now in talks with a wildlife publisher who is interested in selling
my work . What a turn around from a year ago!”
“Satisfying my passion for painting animals and wildlife is rewarding, but
capturing the enthusiasm of animals at work is by far the most stimulating.”
View scanned image of the actual Sporting Gun
article by
clicking here.
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