Escape to the Sea

or an artist, Karen Sherwood has enjoyed a bit of a push-pull relationship with painting, she’s drawn to it but often finds it difficult and challenging. In her words, the fine art graduate decided very early on that she was ‘never going to be the artist she wanted to be’ but found that she had the ability to sell work and support other artists. It’s something she has now done through her Cupola Gallery for over 30 years.

Karen was painting when she opened the gallery in 1991 but ended up taking a 12-year hiatus when her children were born and growing up. It was one of her customers that helped to rekindle that love for painting.

“She lent me her caravan in Seahouses in the North East and after spending some time there I felt inspired to paint again,” she recalled. “I asked if I could go back, which I did for ten days, and did 22 sketches – I haven’t stopped since.”

Balancing her time between managing the gallery and spending time in her studio has become much more achievable in recent years and this month Karen will be hosting a solo exhibition at Cupola from 15 July to 19 August, her first for two years.

Entitled ‘Escape to the Sea’ it harks back to those days spent by the coast but also draws inspiration from the planet and the environment. Karen’s work also tends to reflect how she feels about the world.

“It’s strange, because I live in one of the most land-locked cities in the country,” she explains. “Yet my paintings almost always end up depicting the sea. I think this arises from these unsettling times and the fact that the sea is always in motion. I love the sea despite being a little scared of it. It’s a powerful force after all.”

Karen’s paintings will be presented on a mixture of canvas, board and paper and she has also done a collection of 24 framed miniatures, which measure just 5x7cm. All will be available to purchase at the exhibition.

“My paintings always start out abstract but form into landscapes that bizarrely look like familiar places,” Karen said. “They often decide want they want to be. I think they show an energy and effort that people can relate to.”

Karen loves the emotive power of colour and is a huge fan of the likes of Turner, Cy Twombly, Joan Eardley and Helen Frankenthaler.

“I want my paintings to evoke an emotional response,” she added. “At first I didn’t think my own work would be suitable for the gallery but my painting technique has developed over the years and now fits into a much more contemporary scene.”

As well as the exhibition at Cupola Gallery, Karen will be displaying eight paintings at York’s Blue Tree Gallery and has a long-standing relationship with the Hope Gallery in Hebden Bridge, who have regularly shown her work. She’s open to other galleries showing her work and also does commissions.

Karen will be hosting a launch event for ‘Escape to the Sea’ from 7.30pm on Friday 14 July – everyone is welcome.

Cupola Gallery

178-178a Middlewood Road

Sheffield, S6 1TD Tel: 0114 285 2665 www.cupolagallery.com

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