Sandra Millar

Artist

People in action or repose are the focus of Sandra Millar's imaginative, colourful large scale paintings, prints and drawings, whether on the beach, at sea, at the circus, dancing or communicating with each other or the viewer.

Sandra Millar was born in Ayr, and brought up in Edinburgh. She studied at Edinburgh College of Art for 4 years, where she was awarded an Andrew Grant scholarship for the final two years of her Drawing and Painting course. After college ,she was employed by an Advertising Agency. Moving to London, she worked as an Oriental Art Restorer, a Glass Painter, and a Montessori Nursery Teacher before taking an Art Teacher Training Course at Goldsmiths College.
She taught Art for many years in London and won a Teacher's two week Bursary to the British School of Rome, to study and make drawings and paintings of the Fountains of Rome.
She now works as a painter and printmaker.
Her work develops from sketchbook notes and observations, where the focus is on people and their relationship with each other and the space that surrounds them. They are celebrations of life describing transient moments, casual glances, and complex emotions.
The original decision to concentrate on the figure came from the opportunity to draw and paint circus performers while they practiced. The subjects of the work may be ambiguous or metaphoric, showing life as theatre with its dangers, tensions and pleasures.
Working with many layers of glaze the paintings build up a richness of tone and colour and intensity of contrast. Gradually the figures take on a life of their own and tell their own story.
Printmaking , especially drypoint, etching, sugarlift, and aquatint allows the exploration of light and dark through linear and tonal contrasts.
She is a member of Greenwich Printmakers.
Sandra has exhibited regularly since 1990 in group and solo shows in London and Edinburgh. Her work is in public and private collections in this country and abroad.
Paintings and Prints are available at Restaurant 109 Kew Road Richmond