In Conversation with Sarah Smalldon
Colour, character, collecting and a lifelong need to create are at the heart of Plymouth artist Sarah Smalldon’s practice.
A commercial artist and illustrator for more than 15 years, Sarah has built a distinctive style filled with bold colour, playful details and familiar objects, with her work appearing across Plymouth and in commissions including pieces for The Box.
Now, she is entering an exciting new chapter. This September, Sarah will open the doors of her colourful Plymouth home as part of Devon Artist Network Open Studios, giving visitors the chance to discover work that has rarely been seen before. She is also preparing to begin a Masters Degree at Arts University Plymouth, where she hopes to explore storytelling, domesticity, vintage objects and the ideas that have shaped her work in greater depth.
What’s On Plymouth Culture reporter and fashion designer Victoria Lammie caught up with Sarah to talk about her creative life, her ‘more is more’ approach, why she is always drawing and what comes next.
(Image Sarah Smalldon)
For those discovering your work for the first time, how would you describe who you are and what you do?
I've been working as a commercial artist and illustrator for about fifteen years. I've lived in Plymouth for 21 years and love it here. I create colourful, loveable, accessible art. I’m always creating and have created a lot of art around Plymouth and I’m known to some as a Plymouth artist. I've created flyers for the City Council. The Box Museum commissioned me to draw all the figure heads which they then printed on a tea towel and a print and are sold in their gift shop. I like to be accessible and affordable, I want my work to be on walls. I’m constantly creating. From my art I create prints, tea towels, greetings cards and cups. I love colour!
You’ve described your approach as ‘more is more’ can you tell us a little more about what that means to you, and what inspires your work?
I was diagnosed with both ADHDs and Autism last year. Which I’ve grown up knowing I had them all my life. The more is more is kind of me…I’ve known since I was five years old I wanted to be an artist. There is no other Sarah, I am just an artist. More is more it comes from me being prolific and having to be constantly doing. It’s the constant jumping from one thing to another that's how my brain works, my eyes work fast and that's why everything is very eclectic in my house. I don’t like horizons. I find the sea and the sky uninspiring. I’d rather see a town or a city with lots of different buildings, windows and shapes.
Image Sarah Smlldon
What are you currently working on? And what ideas or themes are you exploring at the moment?
I like domesticity and Ilike to draw what’s in front of me. If I don’t know what to draw for example I’ll draw this cup. I’m always drawing in my sketch book. It's constant. I’ve got seven sketch books that I’ve completed since November 2024. If I’m ever stuck I’ll pick up one of my sketchbooks and pick a piece from it and work on that. Now I’m working on some self portraits because you can always draw yourself. I also love to draw domestic items such as jugs, plates and bowls. I’m starting to think about story telling. I love thrifting and visiting car boot sales, collecting vintage things which I then research the history of that object to create a story in my head about it.
Image Sarah Smalldon
What are you about to embark on a Masters Degree at Arts University Plymouth. What inspired you to take this next step in your creative practice?
I’ve been meaning to do an MA since I graduated. But this year what inspired me to take this next step was I have been reasonably successful with my art. But due to my neurodiversity I get stuck and I can’t push myself to the next level. Therefore I would like the MA to push me to investigate all the things I’ve been drawing and painting for the last few years and my love of thrifting, vintage and story telling. I’ve just sold my family house that was draining me and I’ve now moved into a new chapter. I feel my art practice needs more depth to it and I really want to use the MA to push my work to the next level!
You're taking part in the Devon Artist Network Open Studios this September. Can you tell us a little more about what you’ll be showing and what visitors can expect?
My house is very colourful and bright and lots of people are attracted to interiors. Therefore when I say I’m going to open up my house people always want to come along and see it. I’m opening it up to basically sell the pieces of my work that are piled up all around. People like to have an experience. I’ll be opening up my flat so people can come and see it and I have loads of bodies of work that have never been shown; they've just been lying in drawers. I like to sell it affordably. I’ve got a mix of things from greetings cards to prints and I just want people to come and see my art on walls. It’s not just the art they’re coming to see but to see me and my home. I’ll be open 11-3pm every day 12-20th September.
Image Pete Clayton
Looking ahead, what's next for you and your practice?
I’ve landed in this place after selling my house and I want to explore why I do the art I do, create more bodies of work, gain some gallery representation and actually go back to working as a full time artist. The MA will help me with this! I’d also like to work with oil paints which I’ve never done before. I’m also going to do prints to order on my website. But also going back and revisiting the story telling of Plymouth and it’s history which I’m really fascinated in.
Speaking with Sarah was a real joy. Her work is instantly recognisable for its vibrant colours, playful energy and wonderfully uplifting quality. There is something about Sarah’s work that simply makes you smile. Her work feels full of character and imagination, and it is impossible not to be drawn into that colourful world.
Be sure to go and see her and her art as part of Devon Artist Network Open Studios which runs from the 12th to the 20th of September. For further details please contact Sarah Smalldon.
www.instagram.com/sarahsmalldon_art
