sasha harding
special collection

“For me, painting is all about capturing a moment in time, a snapshot - the distillation of a scene down to its core elements.

Perhaps unusually for a painter, from the initial spark of an idea I’ll write down words and come to a title before the accompanying forms take shape, setting a strong narrative from which to work. Then I’ll turn to my sketchbook and very carefully plan the layout and conjure up the characters, meaning that when the time comes to put paint to canvas the picture is already fully-fledged. The actual painting is the very final stage of the process, the fun part. I only ever use three specific paint colours (and white) – a limited palette that allows me to concentrate on content and form rather than colour.

In all my work, I aim to strike a balance between the pensive and the silly, the serious and the absurd, injecting quirkiness and humour in careful measures. The resulting juxtapositions very much reflect my personality. Keen on having a healthy work/life balance, I spend a lot of time on or in or by the sea, often returning to the studio inspired by something or someone I’ve seen while out on a fishing or kayaking trip. And, suitably refreshed, I’ll start the endlessly fulfilling process again.”

Sasha Harding Penryn, Cornwall 2010

SASHA HARDING was born in Dorset in 1973, and arrived in Cornwall in the 1990’s to study Fine Art at Falmouth College, and like so many other Falmouth graduates, she never left. She’s now firmly ensconced on the outskirts of Penryn with, as she puts it, “a man, a dog, chickens and a studio in the garden”. Sasha has been a professional, exhibiting artist since 2000.

EDUCATION
1993 - 1996 Falmouth School of Art BA (Hons)
1992 - 1993 Shelly Park, Dorset Diploma in Fine Art
1989 - 1991 Marlborough College, Wiltshire

EXHIBITIONS (2000 to date)
2010 The Mulberry Tree Gallery “Halcyon Days”
2010 Richard Hagen Gallery “Around Britain’s Coastline”
2010 Janet Bell Gallery Mixed Show
2009 Emer Gallery “Summer Days” (one man show)
2009 The Mulberry Tree Gallery “Simplicity” (mixed show)
2009 Richard Hagen Gallery “Around Britain’s Coastline”
2008 Baxters Gallery Two Man Show
2006 New Grafton Gallery “Art From Cornwall”
2006 Emer Gallery One Man Show
2006 Richard Hagen Gallery “Around Britain’s Coastline”
2005 Hagen Aria one Man Show
2004 Emer Gallery one Man Show
2003 Glass House Gallery one Man Show
2001 Thompson’s Gallery “Sea Show”
2001 Glass House Gallery One Man Show
2000 Hicks Gallery Women Artists

GALLERIES
Richard Hagen Gallery, Broadway, Worcestershire
Emer Gallery, Belfast, Ireland
Glass House Gallery, Penzance, Cornwall
The Mulberry Tree Gallery, Swanage, Dorset
Avalon Gallery, Marazion, Cornwall
Seastar Gallery, Mousehole, Cornwall
The Great Atlantic Gallery, St Just/Falmouth, Cornwall
Fowey River Gallery, Fowey, Cornwall

Morning sail 79 x 79cm acrylic on canvas £2100	Quiet walk 78 x 78cm acrylic on canvas £2100
Summer Beach, Falmouth 99 x 118cm acrylic on canvas £3100	The swim 79 x 78cm acrylic on canvas £2100