Sarah Webb Biography
British artist Sarah Webb was born in Cleethorpes in 1964 and has worked as a professional artist for over 30 years. Following graduation from Loughborough University Sarah moved to London, working long hours producing scenery and props for film, theatre and television; using the factory floor as a studio to make her own paintings until the early hours.
Fine Artist Story
Twice finalist in the world’s most prestigious art competition, The BP Portrait Award at The National Portrait Gallery, Webb’s paintings soon started to grow in popularity. The Fine Art world was vibrant in the 80s-early 90s and Sarah was invited to exhibit her large, expressive oil paintings at The Roy Miles Gallery in Mayfair. Roy Miles (1935-2012) – considered to be, ‘one of the most prolific, talented and knowledgeable art dealers in the world’ – was known for his groundbreaking exhibitions and glamorous parties which are recorded in his autobiography, “Priceless”.
In 1989, flamboyant entrepreneur Eric Hall (1928-2008) first discovered the artist’s work when he had visited the factory to buy some plastic lemons for a Gordons Gin advert. Webb’s large, figurative oil paintings were stored on the walls and Eric immediately fell in love with them. Their chance meeting proved to be a seminal moment in the artist’s career, as the following day Hall arranged a meeting at Webb’s favourite haunt, The Frenchouse pub in Soho – which at the time was also frequented by the likes of Francis Bacon and Lucien Freud. Several bottles of champagne later Sarah signed a contract which was to shape her career as an artist, when Eric offered her 6 months sponsorship to live and paint in southern Spain. After four successful years in Andalucia, Sarah moved to Madrid – ‘the city that never sleeps’ – where she gained a substantial following, won prestigious competitions and was invited by the mayor to become a member of highly acclaimed Circle of Fine Artists. Webb, by now fluent in Spanish, would go on to spend a further four years in the exuberant capital working with many other European painters, sculptors, dancers and writers. Eric Hall was Sarah’s patron and very dear friend for over 20 years.
Webb has received many commissions from amongst others: Victor Edelstein, couture designer to Lady Diana Spencer; Sir Peter Reynolds, great-grandson of Sir Joshua Reynolds; Terrance Dicks, author and script editor of ‘Dr Who’ and Andaluz Matador, Pepe Luis Martin. The artist’s minimal palette has been influenced by Goya, Manet, Rembrandt and Gwen John. Her formative years on the east coast of England alongside the time she spent in Spain, France and Italy is evident in both her drawings and oil paintings. Webb’s work is collected in Europe, America, China and Dubai. Sarah continues to be a highly prolific artist and currently resides in the UK with her daughter, Stella.
1964 Cleethorpes
Where it all began
Born in Cleethorpes on February 27th 1964, Sarah Webb is the younger daughter of school teachers Hugh and Wendy Webb.
1964 Cleethorpes
1982-1984 Grimsby
Grimsby School of Art
Sarah enrols at the school famously attended by actor John Hurt.
1982-1984 Grimsby
1984-1987 Loughborough
Sarah Webb Loughborough University 1984-1987
1984-1987 Loughborough
1987-1989 London
London Agent
Webb moved to London where she worked for a company which produced props and scenery for Film, TV and Theatre using the factory floor to her produce her own work during the night. It was there that she would be discovered by entrepreneur, Eric Hall [1928-2008] who would become her agent and friend for the next 20 years.
Photo: Webb next to her large oil, ‘Cleethorpes Before The Storm’, which was exhibited as a billboard poster next to Tate Britain on The London Underground.
Photo: Webb next to her large oil, ‘Cleethorpes Before The Storm’, which was exhibited as a billboard poster next to Tate Britain on The London Underground.
1987-1989 London
1989-1997 Madrid
Destination Madrid
Sarah and Eric’s primary base during that period was in one of Andalucia’s White Villages,Gaucin in the province of Malaga. After 4 productive years Sarah began to get ‘itchy feet ‘ and being a night owl left for the capital which is still described as the city that never sleeps.
1989-1997 Madrid
1997 Grimsby
A Sad Time
Death of the artist’s father, Hugh Webb [1930-1997].
1997 Grimsby
1997-2000 Nottingham
Return to England
Sarah returned to England in 1997 and following the tragic death of her father in Grimsby, she moved to the City of Nottingham. It was there that she would later give birth to her beloved daughter, Stella Leonie Webb who was born on May 29th 1999. Mother and daughter moved out of the city centre for a while to a remote farm in Nottinghamshire.
1997-2000 Nottingham
2000 Grantham
Upping Sticks
Sarah & Stella re-located to Grantham in Lincolnshire.
2000 Grantham
2003 Suffolk
The Rural Ideal
The artist and her daughter left Grantham to move to Ipswich in the county of Suffolk-home to Flatford Mill where John Constable painted his most famous work, The Hay Wain in 1816.
2003 Suffolk
2007
Sarah Webb Fine Art is based in the UK.
2007