Local artist excels

Sarah Nelson, a Rye Harbour artist, has had one of her paintings – ‘Keep the Car Running’ – included in this year’s Royal Academy Summer Exhibition at Burlington House, London.
This annual event is open to all artists and is a chance to see an eclectic mix of work at the world’s largest open submission exhibition. Numbers are capped at 16,500, from which around 4,000 are shortlisted. These are then physically presented to the selection committee who choose approximately 1,500 for hanging. To have won through to the final stage is indeed prestigious.

The year’s theme of ‘Climate’ relates to Sarah’s recent work which has focused on the Harbour Road, a mile-long stretch connecting Rye Harbour to Rye.
Sarah explained, “The nature reserve in Rye Harbour has SSSI status, is very beautiful and visited by many in their cars, thus creating two opposite environments, the natural and the polluting. I particularly love, and have obsessively drawn, the cranes in the boatyard at the north end of the road. One day I watched as a red car passed by: colour, literally, driving through the landscape.”

Sarah’s studio in Rye Harbour is open this weekend Saturday June 18 and Sunday June 19 from 10am – 5pm, as part of South East Open Studios. The Farm Studio is on Tram Road, Rye Harbour, TN31 7TZ . All are welcome: just drop in. Visitors in cars should park in the Martello car park and make the short walk back along Tram Road to the studio.
In July, Sarah is moving back to her roots to the north-east of England, where she has bought a three-acre field with plans to build an eco-home and studio. Do take this opportunity to see her work and shingle garden before the removal vans arrive!

The Royal Academy Summer Exhibition, curated by Alison Wilding, runs from June 21 to August 21.

www.sarahnelsonstudio.co.uk
Instagram @sarahnelsonstudio

Image Credits: Kt bruce .