Artist Profile - Sarah Nicholson

By Colin Serjent

I have got a dichotomy of practice. On one hand I have got semi-traditional work: they go into frames and hang on walls, and people can buy them in the traditional fashion. They are pastels, very bold and very bright and based exclusively on the Industrial landscape, particularly the North of England, which is a long term interest of mine. They are two-dimensional and are on paper.
The other side of my practice - which I have been doing for an equal amount of time - is object-based, sculptural forms and installations, which I have been doing in galleries, with residencies and with community based initiatives.
If I get bored or disheartened by one side I can switch to the other side - it keeps the two fresh.
My installations are about identity, particularly identity and memory; exploring who I am, exploring how you got to be who you are.
I have a bad memory and a main reason for this is that I suffer from migraine. This condition is an influence in my work although it has only recently been diagnosed. Unbeknown to me I was exploring a phenomena that I did not know was there.
I have exhibited my digital projections, pastels and residency-based installations - and installations on their own - extensively outside of Liverpool, with my pastel works being shown regularly in London.
I am currently spending time - together with my partner Stanislaw Krakiewicz - setting up an exhibition space that will be called the 'Kitchen Gallery', which is a major project of mine. It will be housed at Norton Priory Museums and Gardens in Runcorn, where we both have studio space.
In addition I am also working on a permanent art work which will be situated in the eco-house that is being built at the Priory.
An element of the business side of my life as an artist is running workshops for both children and adults throughout the country. It is especially pleasing to work with children. Because of their open-mindedness it is pure creativity for them being involved in the workshops.

Sarah's website: http://www.sarahnicholson.com