Sarah Godfrey

Sarah has always had a very spontaneous, experimental approach to her printmaking. Having trained as an Illustrator, graduating with a distinction in her Pg/dip from Central Saint Martins School of Art in the 1990s, it is not surprising this has influenced her style of image making. She creates highly sophisticated, over the top images, purely imaginative and fantastical, using as many methods of mark making within one image as she can lay her hands on. Obsessively layering and re-layering. Images are inspired by memories, stories, always being added to by her own unique way of seeing. Her aim being to entice the viewer to look deeper into her imagery and get involved.

In 2001 Sarah increasingly began to use printmaking as a medium to create her work. Unfortunately however soon she found she was becoming more sensitive to the mix of chemicals involved in the traditional processes such as etching and aquatint and was advised by her doctor to stop. As a result Sarah went on to research and practice new methods of non-toxic printmaking which she finds exciting and rewarding.

In 2006 she set up the North Notts non-toxic printmaking workshop based on the Welbeck Estate in the Harley Gallery studios, with the aim being to create an awareness of non toxic printmaking techniques through provision of public workshops and exhibitions. Sarah has worked with many printmaking studios, schools, colleges and universities encouraging the push towards non toxic printmaking practices.

She has exhibited her printmaking widely, including at the Royal College of Art, the Mall Galleries, Westminster Central Hall and the European Illustration Collection. She has also won Arts Council awards and took part in several artist residencies.