Sarah Morrish

Biography

Sarah’s fascination and passion of illustrating the natural world stems from childhood and combined with her having worked in the field of conservation, her artwork depicts natural forms in a variety of media. Watercolour is the predominant medium she uses, but her detailed work is also portrayed using graphite pencil, acrylics on natural linen canvas and gouache on tinted paper. In addition she often explores the world of printmaking, producing hand cut and printed lino-cuts, several of which have been published in a poetry anthology about freshwater birds. Her work has also been reproduced onto fine ceramic ware by Jayne Chapman Designs Ltd., and published in Katherine Tyrrell’s book Sketching 365, published by Apple Press in January 2015. Sarah’s painting involves her working with several Wildlife Trusts and conservation organisations, in a teaching capacity and also producing artwork to be used in interpretation resources. Between 2010 and 2011 she was Artist in Residence at Hants & IOW Wildlife Trust Swanwick Lakes Nature Reserve. In 2015 Sarah is working on a project in association with the Kingcombe Centre in Dorset, illustrating the natural elements of ancient hedgerows, in particular twigs and buds of trees and shrubs in winter. Sarah has been a full exhibiting member with the Society of Floral Painters since 2000 and has had two successful solo exhibitions in recent years. Since 2013 she has exhibited with the SBA and was accepted as an Associate Member in 2015. In 2014 her painting A View Inside - Echinacea purpurea, was awarded a Certificate of Botanical Merit. The award was judged by Dr Brent Elliott, currently Historian of the RHS. His comments were, ‘An excellent cross-section of a flower in the manner of Church’s Types of Floral Mechanism. I hope it will encourage others to try their hand at this mode of presentation’. Workshops & Courses Sarah shares her passion, skills and natural history knowledge by teaching botanical art and natural history illustration for Dorset Wildlife Trust, Hants & IOW Wildlife Trust, Peter Symonds College AHED in Winchester and is also available to teach workshops and courses for other organisations. In 2015 the Natures Details Art Summer School is taking place in a beautiful countryside setting in the South Downs National Park near to Winchester. For 2016 these courses have now been extended and will run from March to October. She holds the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh Certificate in Botanical Illustration (Distinction) and is also qualified to teach in lifelong learning. In her workshops there is not only the opportunity to learn new skills and techniques in art, but also the chance to really get to know your subject and enhance your learning through using additional resources. These include microscopes, a digital microscope, a wide selection of natural history books and ID charts and also access to the Natures Details Youtube Channel, where you will find a variety of tutorial videos. Her blog ‘The Natural Year’ also includes many helpful and informative articles, often linked to the themes of courses and workshops.