Biography

 

Sarah Spencer

Sarah Spencer studied painting at Camberwell School of Art and gained a Scholarship from The Arts Club for postgraduate study at the Royal Academy Painting Schools.

Her work is held in public and private collections at home and abroad. She was elected as a member of the New English Art Club in 2005 and became its vice president in 2018.

She has received major national and international awards for her work and has exhibited with the National Portrait Gallery’s BP Portrait Award, the Royal Academy, Royal Society of Portrait Painters and is a regular exhibitor at the Mall Galleries and galleries across the UK. In 2013 she was awarded the Painter-Stainer prize, and in 2011 was selected for inclusion as “one of ‘Britain’s most eminent contemporary figurative artists” in the ‘Pure Gold’ exhibition celebrating the Federation of British Artists’ 50th anniversary.

 

Scholarships, Awards, Prizes

 

2021Michael Harding Prize
2019Peter Ashley Prize
2019Winsor and Newton Award
2018Elected Vice President of the New English Art Club
2013Worshipful Company of Painter-Stainer prize at the New English Art Club
2006Elected Member of the New English Art Club
1995Elizabeth Greenshield Commonwealth Major Award For Painting
1993Direct Support Arts Grant, South East Arts Council
1991Haite Travel Scholarship
1991Duff Greet Drawing Prize
1991Creswick Landscape Prize
1989The Arts Clubs Scholarship
1989David Murray Landscape Scholarship
1988Gordon Macara Prize for Excellence
1986WS Vellum Drawing Prize

Selected Mixed Exhibitions

2023-4Russell Gallery Winter Exhibition
2023Geedon Gallery Exhibition
2023Thompson’s Gallery, Aldeburgh, Winter Exhibition
2023Jerram Gallery Invited Artists Christams Exhibition
2023NEAC Annual Exhibition, MAll Galleries
2023Victoria Art Gallery, Bath
2022Award Winning Artists Exhibition, Mall Galleries
2022Linden Hall mixed exhibition
2022Thompson’s Gallery, London NEAC selected members exhibition
2022Mall Galleries New English Art Club Annual Exhibition
2022Thompson’s Gallery, Aldeburgh, annual Exhibition
2022Chris Beetles NEAC Members Exhibition
2022Adrian hill Fine Art, Stamford. Guest artist
2022Panter and Hall, Selected exhibition
2022The Gallery Holt, ‘Harmony’ exhibition
2021Thompson’s Gallery,London, Autumn Exhibition
2021Thompson’s Gallery, Aldeburgh, Annual Exhibition
2021Mall Galleries New English Art Club Annual Exhibition
2020Thompson’s Galleries, Aldeburgh, Winter Exhibition
2020 Russell Gallery Christmas Exhibition
2020Mall Galleries New English Art Club Annual Exhibition
2020Thompson’s Gallery, Aldeburgh, Autumn Exhibition
2020Thompson’s Gallery, London: The Great British Summer
2020Mall Galleries: The Figurative Art Fair 20
2020Thompson’s Gallery, New English Selected Exhibition
2020Jerram Gallery, Selected Exhibition
2020Linden Hall Studio. Sounds of the Sea Exhibition
2020Chris Beetles Gallery, London. New English Art Club Exhibition
2019St. Ives, Cornwall. Mixed exhibition
2019Mall Galleries: New English Art Club Annual Exhibition
2018Fosse Gallery Summer Exhibition of Fosse Gallery Artists
2018Mall Galleries: New English Art Club Annual Exhibition
2018Geedon Gallery, Exhibition of New English Artists
2018Contemporary British Artists at the Fosse Gallery
2018The View Gallery
2018Russell Gallery Winter Exhibition
2017The Sentinel Gallery Kaleidoscope Exhibition
2017Fosse Gallery Select Exhibition of New English Artists
2017Women in Art, Burgh House, Hampstead
2017The Mall galleries, New English Exhibition
2017Hampstead Art Fair
2017Linden Hall Studios Gallery
2017Seascape, Skyscape and the Colour Blue at The Sentinel Gallery
2016The Geedon Gallery
2016Hampstead Art Fair
2016New English Art Club Open, London
2016Russell Gallery Summer and Winter Exhibitions
2015London Contemporary Art Fair 2015
2015New English Art Club Open, Mall Galleries
2015Royal Society of British Artists at the Mall Galleries
2015Piers Feetham Gallery: Small Paintings Group
2015The Small Self Portrait Exhibition at Hogarth’s House
2014Lynn Painter-Stainer Exhibition at the Mall Galleries
2014Osbourne Studio Gallery ‘Sea and Land’ Exhibition
2013Tenth Anniversary Exhibition The Russell Gallery
2012Bankside Gallery, London
2012The Russell Gallery group exhibition
2011PURE GOLD : FBA selected exhibitor
2010NEAC Annual
2010Cheltenham Martins Gallery
2010Grapevine Gallery, Burnham Market
2010Art London
2009Turner Contemporary ‘Generate’ Exhibition and Project
200920/21st Century International Art Fair, Royal College
2007Country Living Fair
2007A Gallery, Wimbledon
2006Royal Society of Portrait Painters Exhibition, Mall Galleries
2006National Portrait Gallery BP Portrait Exhibition
2006Artifex Gallery
2005Art London, Chelsea
2004New Grafton Portrait Exhibition
2003Jenny Granger Gallery
1998Bank Street Gallery Three Person Show
1996A New Beginning, Park Walk Gallery
1996Chelsea Arts Fair, Royal College of Art
1995Ten British Painters, Waterman’s Fine Art
1995Artists of Today and Tomorrow, New Grafton Gallery
1995Thompson’s Gallery Drawing Show
1995Waterman’s Fine Art
1994Thompson’s Gallery
1993Long and Ryle Gallery
1992Cadogan Gallery
1992Critics’ Show, Cooling Gallery
1991Painting Today Show, Bonham’s Fine Art
1991A View of the New, Royal Overseas League
1991Discerning Eye Exhibition
1991Royal Academy Summer Show
1991New English Arts Club
1990Royal Institute of Oil Painters
1990Hunting Group Show FBA

Solo Exhibitions

2015The Russell Gallery
2013The Russell Gallery
2008The Russell Gallery
2006Saatchi Gallery / Your Gallery
2006The Russell Gallery
2004New Grafton Gallery
2002New Grafton Gallery
1997Offer Waterman Fine Art
1994New Grafton Gallery
1993Waterman’s Fine Art, London
1992New Grafton Gallery, London

Publications

500 Portraits’ 2011, National Portrait Gallery Publications ISBN 978 1 85514 448 4

Pure Gold’ 2010 FBA Publications ISBN 978 0 9560219 3 9

Who’s Who in Art: Biographies of Leading Men and Women in the World of Art Today ’ Editions 1997 -2015 Charles Baile de Lapierriere ISBN 13: 978-0904722413

Features

2015Artist and Illustrators Magazine: ‘My Studio’ feature by Steve Pill
2012Country Living Magazine ‘Sarah Spencer: A Sense of Style’ by Corinna Kitchen
2010Saga Magazine
2008Art in London
2005BBC Homes and Antiques
2005The Daily Telegraph ‘Family’ section, Sarah Lonsdale
2005The Week
2004Vogue
1998House and Garden
1997Financial Times ‘At the Dealers’ Georgina Adam
1994Art Review ‘Poetic Vision’ by David Wolfers
1993The Independent
1992The Times: ‘Picking out the Plums’ John Russell Taylor review
1992Robert Harris in ‘Around the Galleries feature:
1992Exhibitions Diary, Country Life
1991Daily Mail 1991 ‘Class Portrait’ Madelaine Harper

 

 


Reviews

Sarah Lonsdale, Columnist, Sunday Telegraph, 2013

I gave my husband a painting by Sarah Spencer for his fiftieth birthday a few years ago – one of those cunning presents that the giver enjoys as much as the receiver. At first sight a rather sombre study of grey skies above Whitstable beach, it produces different effects throughout the day. Depending on the weather outside, sometimes it threatens a violent rain storm and other times it promises clear, calm skies after the squall has passed.

Sarah Spencer’s exquisite studies of sea- and sky-scapes embody opposing, yet complementary emotions. Joyous celebrations of light as it sparkles off water or streams through clouds, her paintings are also evocative expressions of a certain contemplative mood, like that of the solitary walker who comes across an empty beach above which ominous storm clouds broil, or, following a summer shower, promises sweet, damp delights.

Yet it is the restrained and unsentimental response to what she sees that makes Sarah such a powerful painter. Whether in a vast East Anglian sky or an intimate close-up of a child or still-life, her muted palette and precise layering of tones and glazes produce a unique combination of delicacy and control.

Sarah’s tenth solo show has been eagerly awaited by collectors of her work, both private and public and which include the art critic Brian Sewell, and prominent writers and actors. Having exhibited at the National Portrait Gallery, the Royal Academy, The Royal Society of Portrait Painters and New English Art Club at the Mall Galleries, Sarah is now firmly established, in the words of artist and critic William Packer, as one of ‘Britain’s most eminent contemporary figurative artists.


Daily Telegraph 5th November 2005 – ´Around the Galleries´ by Robert Harris

…Sarah Spencer captures the mature quality of an old Master in paintings that reveal a gift for bringing to life a scene that might be thought featureless.


The Independent, 28th June 1999

David Wolfers has an eye for young talent, especially that emanating from the Royal Academy Schools, as shown in his exhibition of paintings and drawings by Sarah Spencer. Sarah Spencer captures the mature quality of an Old Master.


House & Garden, January 1998 – ‘Inside Outside’

…Trained at the Camberwell School of Art, Sarah has exhibited regularly at the Royal Academy and her work is held both in private and national collections. Nowadays, she lives by the sea and her paintings, which have a sensitive and mature quality, reflect the influences of such surroundings.


The Week, October 1995 – ‘Ten British Artists at Waterman’s Fine Art’

…another Waterman high-flier is Sarah Spencer who specializes in small seascapes of Whitstable .
Waterman’s young artist tempers the traditional with her own individual talent and offers a convincing alternative to dead sheep.


The Times 1994 – ‘Picking out the Plums’

Featured artist in the article ´Picking out the Plums at the Royal Academy Summer Show: Sarah Spencer´s tiny exquisite oils in muted tones of blue and grey are always in demand


Country Life April 1993

This is the second one woman show by Sarah Spencer. Her work has a maturity and restraint which belie her age.


Mail on Sunday 1992

Art writer Edward Lucie – Smith chose five artists he believes will have a particular impact on British art of the future: Sarah Spencer´s paintings are very elegant and rather lovely in the old St. Ives tradition. They are curiously old-fashioned but very sophisticated. This artist’s work is by far the most delicate.