I am a painter, a collagist, a printmaker, a tutor, nomadic, restless, curious, experimental, irreverent, untidy, loud…
My work is about journeys; those that I take and the journey that the artwork has been on in my studio. I create paintings and works on paper; prints and collages. Each way of working informs the other and are often combined in a single piece. Find out more.
I am working on an exciting new series of Urban Abstracts. If you want to be kept informed then sign up below.
ONLINE COURSES
As well as being a professional artist, I am also a qualified teacher with many years of teaching experience. I am a specialist in teaching adults all aspects of creativity, from beginners to advanced. I currently teach a range of skills and concept online courses that enable me to reach students at all stages of their creative journey, worldwide from my studio in Norwich, UK.
Find out more about my online courses here, or scroll down to view my current courses.
I run two types of courses; SELF-PACED can be bought and done at any time that suits you. I also run three SCHEDULED courses, they run for 6 -8 weeks and during that time I am there daily in the group to answer questions. Registration opens a few weeks before the course starts and places a limited so that I can give individual attention, see my upcoming scheduled course dates:
APPROACHES TO ABSTRACTION running from 3 June – 28 July 2024
URBAN EXPLORATIONS running from 16 August – 27 September 2024
Scheduled courses…
CONFIDENT COMPOSITION
Discover and explore a range of approaches to composition and design
APPROACHES TO ABSTRACTION
For artists confident in their chosen media who want to develop a more abstract approach
URBAN EXPLORATIONS
Explore the surfaces, textures, signage and shapes of the urban environment
DISCOVER COLLAGRAPHY LIVE
Learn how to create, ink and print three types of Collagraph plates
“Just when you think you have learned all there is to learn…. along comes a new Sally Hirst course. Informative, fun and inspirational. By far the best available online and great value for money” Megan
Self-paced courses…
MONOTYPE: MATERIALS & METHODS
Exploring a range of creative monotype techniques
COVER TO COVER
Explore a range of creative artists’ books, and learn how to fill them with exciting prints from cover to cover
COLLAGE CREATIONS
Explore creative collage techniques and use your prints to create fabulous mixed media collages
COMPLETE CREATIVE COLLAGRAPHY
Discover an experimental approach to intaglio printmaking
PUSHING PAINT
Learn how to paint using oil and cold wax or acrylics in this three part course
TETRA ETCETERA
Learn how to use Tetra Pak®, cardboard boxes and other boxes to create prints
MAKE TOOLS - MAKE MARKS
Learn how to make your own artist tools, and disrupt your creative process
Testimonials
“Just when you think you have learned all there is to learn…. along comes a new Sally Hirst course. Informative, fun and inspirational. By far the best available online and great value for money”
Blog
The Collaboration
Since last December Karen Stamper and I have been engaged in a collaboration and I thought it was about time I wrote a blog about it. As I’m sure you are aware we go back a while. I’m not sure when it began but we both taught in Cambridgeshire and our paths would...
Under Pressure
In addition to standard size presses I compare below , I also compared the Sizzix Big Shot Pro with my 'Traditional Etching Press' scroll down or click here. UPDATE FEB 2024. The manufacturer of the etching press complained about this video, but clearly didn't listen...
Artist in an Airbnb
I find the concept of 'holiday' difficult. Whilst I love to travel, visit new places, enjoy different cultures the idea of sitting and relaxing is something I do not relate to. Before politics and pandemic got in the way we would spend many months a year in Spain...
Bookmark Reflections
Having spent much of last year printing from packaging, towards the end of last year I started searching for different types of bases, ones that are found, have a history. Exploring the palimpsest, whether that's from reworking old paintings or using found textures...
Reflecting on play and intention.
Intention matters to the artist—the act of creation by nature is intentional. While art can be serendipitous, overall it is not accidental, we go into the studio with the intention to make art! The prevailing advice given to many artists, particularly those starting...
re-collection; drawing from memory.
Like many artists whilst my final outcomes are abstract, they are firmly based in reality; from observational drawing, tracings, photography, rubbings and gathering up of items I find on my journey. I call this approach collecting; filling my ‘creative fridge’ to use...
A critical friend
DEFINITION: A critical friend can be defined as a trusted person who asks provocative questions, provides data to be examined through another lens, and offers critiques of a person's work as a friend. A critical friend takes the time to fully understand the context of...
CARVING OUT TIME TO CREATE…
In the UK things appear to be easing. People are meeting up, going out and making tentative plans. Time now seems relevant again. We have had over a year of time being a commodity that has been readily available, now we need to consider how we use it, where it goes,...
ADVENTURES WITH BOXES
I have been had an intense investigation into creating from recycled packaging. In many ways this is a return to ideas that surface regularly within my work; the abandoned, a desire for the insignificant given status….a reoccurring theme. Lockdown highlighted the...
Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions
Email: sally@sallyhirst.co.uk
Sally Hirst, oneuppergoat studio, 1 Upper Goat Lane, Norwich, Norfolk, UK, NR2 1EW