Our News

Grandfather inspires liberating poppy piece

10 October 2008

Winchester-based artist, Sarah Williamson (29), has picked up her camera to create a piece of artwork to the theme of Liberation to support our Art Liberating Lives event.

Local photographic artist Sarah, of www.swoonphotography.co.uk, has submitted a stunning photograph, entitled Poppies, to the event and is hoping it will be selected as one of the pieces of artwork that will be on exhibit at the Art Liberating Lives exhibition at the Mall Galleries in London in December (11 – 18).     

Sarah explained why she got involved in Sue Ryder Care’s Art Liberating Lives event, “I find photography both therapeutic and liberating and I’m grateful that through this medium, I feel I have a better quality of life and a unique way of expressing myself.  I felt a special connection with this project because of the good work that Sue Ryder Care does.  Recently my 88 year old grandfather experienced a major stroke and he has also begun to suffer from dementia.  To watch someone so bright and sharp decline so rapidly has been difficult for everyone involved but I believe pictures and photographs are one thing that can rouse some distant memories.” 

Sarah described the inspiration behind her artwork that she submitted to Art Liberating Lives, “The poppyfields in Hampshire this summer were breathtaking and I spent a day absorbing and exploring their fragile but brilliantly coloured flowers. Like many elderly people, one of the few things that my grandfather recalled until recently was wartime memories; he was a tank commander in the Allied invasion force and went on through Belgium, Holland and finally on to Berlin playing a significant role in the liberation of Europe. The poppies in this piece therefore address the liberation theme in more ways than one; Flanders poppies represent life, hope, colour and reassurance for many people - as does art.”  

Sarah set up her own business, Swoon Photography, in February of this year.  Swoon creates contemporary bespoke artwork for corporate clients and private households.  As with Art Liberating Lives, Swoon aims to create unique pieces that present familiar subjects in new and interesting ways.  Sarah also has a striking gallery of existing images for clients to choose from and is offering gift vouchers which have proved particularly popular as an unusual gift in the lead up to Christmas.

Sue Ryder Care is urging people, like Sarah, to create pieces of artwork in all manner of mediums for display at an exclusive exhibition at the prestigious Mall Galleries in London in December.  Newly added to the 2008 event is a Young Artist category for anyone who is in full time education, and we are delighted that Findel Education has provided a prize for the winner of this category - £1,000 to spend on art supplies. 

You can submit your entry for the Mall Galleries through www.suerydercare.org. It costs £12.50 to enter and if your piece is selected to be exhibited, and it is sold during the exhibition, then 45% (including VAT & commission) of the sale will go towards Sue Ryder Care’s vital work, and 55% will go to the artist.  Last day for submissions is 20 October.

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