Artist Profile - Sara Huxley Edwards
Biography
Sarah was born in Birmingham. She did a Foundation Course at Solihull College of Technology before studying Fashion and Textiles at Birmingham Polytechnic and her P.G.C.E. at Manchester Polytechnic. Since graduating she has returned to lecture at Solihull College of Technology, taught Art at Birchwood Community High School, Warrington and St Mathews High School, Manchester. Between 1991 & 2004 she was Head of Textiles at Cadbury College, Birmingham and was a Art Examiner/Moderator for the edexcel exam board for 4 years.
Artist Statement
Sara Huxley-Edwards early work was more experimental, but possibly less saleable. She would paint on any found surfaces from old doors or drawer fronts to MDF. Sometimes she would work into the surface by hammering in nails and old bits of aluminium then using this as a surface upon which to paint. Her degree was in textiles, which probably explains this love of texture.
Artists she admires tend to display similar traits such as Paul Klee, Robert Rauschenberg and Antonio Tapies. Another favourite of hers is Tom Phillips for his use of words in creating artworks, an idea she has borrowed and used in her collaged pieces.
Huxley-Edwards recent series of paintings explores the theme of dining.
She starts by creating just the right surface to draw on by continually adding and removing areas of paint until she is left with the perfect surface to support and compliment the composition. This initial process is very much about using varied methods to impact on the canvas.
The second stage is concerned with drawing and depicting the various vessels she has selected, along with fruits and typically a long stemmed wine glass (or two). Huxley-Edwards has a large collection of these objects in her studio, which she is always adding to. She says most of her vessels come from one of two extremes, either a charity shop or the Conran shop, both favourite haunts. The fruit is usually part of her lunch so she has to start painting early before she eats the subject matter!
Forms are flattened, presented in both two and three dimensions and often overlap, suggesting the movement of time as though a camera had been left open on a very long exposure.
The final stage is about defining and refining where Huxley-Edwards will add different mediums such as graphite, oil pastel or even collage and gold leaf.
Huxley-Edwards colour sense is one of her works great strengths. Warm earthy tones often dominate in her Dining series with flashes of cobalt blue drawing the viewer’s attention to certain aspects. Some works comprise of more subtle, gentle shades that suit the subject depicted.
Huxley-Edwards is an artist who is always evolving and changing. She explores new ideas with sensitivity and her typical passion for texture and colour. Her work will always have the ability to grasp and hold public attention and consequently will become increasingly collectable.
My work is primarily concerned with texture and colour. I work predominantly in mixed media and enjoy experimenting with and building up layers, often with gold leaf or metallic textures breaking through. I often use words in creating my artwork and believe that words and art used together provoke a powerful response in the onlooker, stimulating an evocative train of thought.
My visual inspiration is drawn from such diverse sources as architecture in which I have an abiding interest, to aerial photography which I am drawn to because of its abstract qualities. The structure of buildings and the shapes and spaces inherent in their creation can provide strong abstract images and contrasts of tones and texture in contrast to the random, organic patterns found in nature.