Earlier this month we welcomed collagist Sarah Jackson to Collier & Dobson, and launched her wonderfully bold and complex compositions as limited edition prints along with some of her original art. So now is a great time to tell you more about the talented young artist, her journey, artistic techniques, and what inspires her to create.
Originally from London, Sarah was born in 1989, and moved to the West Country with her family when she was aged just 8. There, the sweeping Cornish coastline, rural scenery and abundance of wildlife ignited a spark of passion in Sarah for the natural world which surrounded her. During her childhood - which she describes as being “filled with nature, wildlife and adventure” - she began to use art as “an outlet for her vision”, creating work inspired by her environment and her eco-conscious ethos.
Sarah would later attend Falmouth University, where she developed her now trademark collage technique of overlaying paper and magazine cuttings (highlighting her environmentally aware approach) to create remarkably intricate and highly textured artwork. She achieved her BA(Hons) degree in Illustration in 2011. When advising about the collaging process she says “Finish with a flourish […] layering is key. Adding more carefully cut trimmings to the medium will build textures and a good depth”.
After graduating, Sarah spent time working as a freelance editorial illustrator, undertaking commissions for some esteemed organisations including The Wall Street Journal, German Wings airline, and global brand Starbucks.
Alongside this freelance work, she embarked upon expanding her own personal portfolio, and began selling her artwork through a selection of galleries. Her innovative artistic style of crafting collage masterpieces which mimic the appearance of paintings soon garnered interest and established her popularity as a collectible artist.
In more recent years, Sarah moved and settled in North Devon and, whilst working at a local framers met and became firm friends with fellow artist Corinne Young. The two fostered a shared dream of one day opening their own gallery…and in 2017 they did just that. ‘Jackson and Young’ began with a small gallery space, which they quickly outgrew. So the creative duo later moved to a larger premises in Barnstaple, and in 2022 even expanded their business to the space next door. Sarah says of her enterprise and partnership “Ultimately we are the very best of friends doing what we love”.
As well as selling her work to a global audience, Sarah has been nominated for a number of awards, including the illustrious David Shepherd Wildlife Artist Of The Year Award - presented by a wildlife foundation which encompasses so many of the principles which she holds for our environment and world of nature.
Earlier this year she won the Ronald Morgan Memorial Award for her piece ‘Octavia’ at The Royal Society of British Artists exhibition at Mall Galleries, as well as receiving Highly Commended by the De Laszlo Foundation at the same event.
Head over to our online gallery to browse and buy from her latest collection of vibrant and textured original art and limited edition prints.
