Sarah Jane Ross CertHE BA (Hons)
Sarah Jane Ross is a visual artist and community arts practitioner based in Bridport, West Dorset, UK.
Her artwork is influenced by nature and its stories. It is art that asks questions and aims to raise awareness and challenge the viewer, whilst being enjoyable aesthetically. Art needs context and meaning.
The ‘Enclosure Acts’ paintings consider the Acts’ effects on the landscape and people asks us to question trespassing, livelihoods and freedom.
Comparisons have been made to Folk Art and Aboriginal Art. There is a folk rhythm to her paintings, with the steady marks, and the rhythm of the seasons. Her work references nature, the land, the food, the flora and the fauna.
As a Community Arts Practitioner, Sarah Jane specializes in working with older adults (including regular art classes in West Dorset care homes) and has delivered classes to people from diverse backgrounds (including those with learning disabilities, physical disabilities, mental health issues and living with dementia). She is passionate about making art accessible.
Education
Studied with the University of the Creative Arts, the University of Exeter and The Art Institute, London.
Experience
Community Artist (2/2016 – present). Delivering visual arts sessions in West Dorset care homes and for Dorset AONB Stepping into Nature’s ‘Your Seasons of Stories’ Project (September 2021- November 2022). Planning, devising and teaching a wide range of visual arts. Ensuring sessions are accessible for mixed capacity groups and working with staff and participants to devise art workshops.
Visual Artist (2011 – present). Multi-disciplinary artist (painting, mixed media, jewellery, sculpture and photography), with work installed for Bridport’s Sculpture Trail (2020 – 2021) and commissioned by Dorset AONB (Stepping into Nature, 2021 – 2022). Primary concerns are environment and landscape. Work exhibited across the South West, including on a cross-channel ferry, in printer’s letterpress compartments (part of a mail art exhibition) and at: Bridport Arts Centre; Sou’-Sou’-West, Symondsbury; Black Swan Arts, Frome; Salisbury Arts Centre; Artizan Gallery, Torquay; Art Unlimited, Bridport and ACE Arts, Somerton.
Background
“Canadian born (explains my love of the great outdoors!), I grew up in suburban Sussex and Berkshire – the Thames Valley’s landscape shaped my early work. After years in West Dorset, my work has softened with biomorphic and ‘blue mind’ influences, exploring connections with nature.
I had, what is nowadays called a ‘portfolio career’. An early roots background in publishing led to running my own consultancy business (PR, editorial and graphic design) at the age of 27.
During my time working on magazines I needed to be self-reliant for photographs so I studied photography. Subsequently, I worked as a dog photographer (crazy, great fun!) also photographing events and the occasional wedding.
In terms of Visual Arts, I worked at South Hill Park Arts Centre’s Gallery and also ran an after-school arts and crafts.
Since moving to Bridport, as well as my own practice, I work as a community artist, delivering art sessions to Care Homes and with community groups across Dorset. Encouraging others to explore their creativity is an incredibly rewarding and inspiring adventure.
Throughout all these roles I have worked on my own visual arts practice, influenced by my experiences in graphic design, photography and visual arts. I continue to do this through education, self-study and play!”
Key influences: Canadian Group of Seven and Tom Thomson; Tracey Emin, JMW Turner; Keith Haring; Jackson Pollock, Lee Krasner; Alexander Calder. General art movements: Abstract Expressionism; Pop Art; Dada; Arts and Crafts movement; Bauhaus; Brutalism; Spiritualism.
Solo Exhibitions
‘Precipice?’ Exhibition at Sou’-Sou’-West Contemporary Art Gallery, Symondsbury Estate, Dorset. 1st – 14th May 2023
Unique Framecraft, Axminster, Devon. 1 August – 27 August 2022.
‘Enclosure Acts’ Exhibition at Sou’-Sou’-West Contemporary Art Gallery, Symondsbury Estate, Bridport, Dorset. 25th April – 8th May 2022.
Group Exhibitions
Christmas Art Fair and Friends Open at Sou’-Sou’-West Contemporary Art Gallery, Symondsbury Estate, Dorset (December 2023)
Art Unlimited International Open Art Competition, Bridport Arts Centre, Dorset (September/October 2023).
‘Summertide’ Bridport Arts Society at Sou’-Sou’-West Gallery, Dorset (July/August 2023)
‘English Riviera Summer Exhibition’, Artizan Gallery, Torquay, Devon (25 June – 7th August 2022) (Four pieces of work selected)
‘Wiltshire Creative Summer Open Exhibition’ at Salisbury Arts Centre, Wiltshire (12 July – 3 September 2022)
‘Black Swan Arts Open’, Frome, Somerset (15 July – 11 September 2022) ‘Chesil Beach’ (size 24″ x 36″)
‘Evolver Prize 2022’, Ace Arts, Somerton, Somerset (2 – 30 July 2022)
‘Winter Open’ Exhibition at Sou Sou West, The Gallery, Symondsbury, Dorset. Five Enclosure Act landscapes (December 2021 – January 2022).
‘English Riviera Winter Open’ Exhibition, Artizan Gallery, Torquay, Devon. Four Enclosure Act landscapes (November 2021 – December 2021).
‘English Riviera Summer Open’, Artizan Gallery, Torquay, Devon. Enclosure Act landscapes (July/August 2021).
‘Reawakening’ exhibition at Sou Sou West, The Gallery, Symondsbury, Dorset. Two Enclosure Act landscapes (June/July 2021).
‘Small Works’ exhibition at Artizan Gallery, Torquay, Devon. Two A4 ‘Enclosure Act’ landscapes (April/May 2021).
‘Restriction’ exhibition, small works (four tiny concrete fish) installed in printers’ drawers, at Clayhill Arts, Somerset, part of the Correspondence Collective (March/April 2021).
Bridport Sculpture Trail 2020 – 2021, ‘Sea Breeze Blocks’ installed as a piece of public art, along the Bridport Green Route (Gundry Pond, River Brit).
‘Natural Forms’ at The Gallery, Symondsbury Estate, mixed media piece (‘Daydreamer’) displayed in the front window of exhibition (August 2020).
Black Swan Arts Open 2019, Frome, Somerset, ‘Catch 22’ kinectic sculpture with audio (17 October – 16 November 2019).
Bridport Open Studios: at Grasmere, Asker Gardens, Dorset (7 – 15 September 2019).
‘Turner Un-SEA-n’ at Bridport Arts Centre (August – October 2019)
Bridport Arts Centre – Bridport Art Society (July and August 2019).
‘The Museum of Objects that Don’t Stand Still’ participatory exhibition at Tate Modern, London (May 2019).
The Salt House, West Bay – Bridport Art Society (April 2019).
Bridport Arts Centre – Bridport Art Society (August 2018).
The Salt House, West Bay – Bridport Art Society (March 2018).
Brittany Ferries’ ship, Barfleur (Poole to Cherbourg crossing). One of 15 Dorset artists to be selected (from over 100) to have work displayed aboard the cross-channel ferry. An Arts Development Company initiative (January and February 2018).
Drimpton Village Hall: Beaminster School 6th Form Photography Exhibition. Delivered mixed media workshop in collaborative project (October 2017).
Bridport Open Studios: at Grasmere, Asker Gardens (September 2017).
Bridport Arts Centre: ‘Exploring Bridport’s Art Studios’ part of Bridport Open Studios, (August – September 2017).
Bridport Arts Centre – Bridport Art Society (August 2017).
The Salt House, West Bay – Bridport Art Society (March 2017).
‘The Creative Mind’ Exhibition, Bridport (February 2017).
Exhibited in Crowthorne and Sandhurst, Berkshire (2012 – 2013).
Outside: Inside (Reading, Berkshire), “Grandad’s Shop” a large scale installation in an empty shop in the town centre of Reading, 2011.