Sally has had a fascinating and diverse artistic journey! From her early days in Kingston, Jamaica, to her formative years in various countries due to her father's army postings, and finally settling in Sussex, her background is quite unique. Her artistic career, which began in the late 1970s, is equally intriguing. Using the pseudonym Heinrich Stoltz to support herself while in medical school, she managed to sell her animal drawings through prestigious auction houses like Bonhams, Sotheby's, and Christie's.
The chance meeting with Royal portrait painter John Hughes-Hallett at the Pavilion Gallery was a pivotal moment in her career, leading to a friendship and mentorship that lasted over two decades. Under John Hallett's guidance, Sally focused on portraiture and was commissioned to paint notable figures such as the President of Calvin Klein and French footballer Zinedine Zidane.
However, her artistic focus shifted in 2000 when she received a commission to create a series of six large canvases depicting the landscapes and colours of the South of France. These impressive works, measuring 250 x 220 cm, took nearly four years to complete and now hang in a private museum in New York. Sally's career continued to flourish, and in 2005, she exhibited at Frances Roden Fine Art in London.
Today, she continues to showcase her work through international galleries, maintaining her presence in the art world.
(Luciana Greco 2025 - Italian Contemporary Painting)
The Colours of My Garden: A Journey into Abstraction- How Nature Inspires my Artistic Evolution.
In my garden, colour is felt and transformed. Each morning, sunlight glances across petals and leaves, drawing me to nature's symphony of hues. The deep cerulean of delphiniums, the blush of peonies, and the golden flicker of marigolds inspire my art.
As I stand amidst the ever-changing tapestry, I gather colour not only with my eyes but with my heart. My paintings interpret the garden’s essence, translating its vibrancy onto canvas and paper in ways that resist realism. This evolution towards abstraction has been as organic as the garden's growth. Initially, my works clung to familiar shapes, but over time, I sought to capture the sensation and fleeting impressions of colour. With pastel or paint brush in hand, I let go of outlines and embrace the flow of pigment. Strokes become bolder, textures more spontaneous.
The garden’s palette is distilled to its essence: vermilion for poppies, viridian for cool shade. These abstract forms capture the garden’s mood, light, and colour. Abstraction offers freedom, allowing the garden’s spirit to dance across the surface, vibrant and unrestrained. Through this process, I have discovered that the garden’s true magic lies in its power to inspire transformation. My art, like the garden, is in constant flux—growing more expressive and abstract, inviting others to see beyond the visible.
Day after day, I return to the colours in my garden. They are my muse and guide, leading me deeper into abstraction and a richer expression of the world as I feel it.