about Sandra Vick, artist

My inspiration has always been rooted in the outdoors, and particularly the natural environment. From my very first exhibition of paintings inspired by the streets of Edinburgh, through to a celebration of the overlooked beauty of weeds around the city, to the birds and hillsides that became central after moving out of the city - nature has remained my constant subject. Long before relocating, I spent years walking and running in the Scottish hills and mountains. I trained as a mountain leader - though starting a family changed that path - but my eye has always been drawn to the forms, textures, and details that make up a landscape and sharing this with others. I am equally fascinated by the flora and fauna within it and by the ancient geology that underpins it.

My most recent work explores hilly and mountainous landscapes ranging from immersive triptychs to multi panel miniature paintings in the form of artists books. These paintings often contrast the multi-layered and textured foreground, with the brooding, looming silhouettes of nearer hills and with the gentler outlines of distant ridges, inviting the viewer to look further and explore. Within this exploration of place, I also enjoy embracing the fluidity and unpredictability of paint. I work with washes, building up layers that settle like sediment, echoing the slow geological processes that form valleys and peaks.

Larger works are inspired by the Pentlands, and the Border hills close to home, while smaller wash paintings respond to the dramatic northern ranges of Scotland. These works carry Gaelic names that describe the shape of each mountain—sometimes poetic, sometimes surprisingly plain, such as “the big red hill” or “the craggy hill.” My paintings are rooted in shared environments and collective memory. I'm interested in how the landscape is named and known by those that inhabit and access it. The landscapes I depict are familiar, offering a common ground that connects people across ages and backgrounds.

Please do get in touch if you would like to know more or would like to visit my studio.

email: sandravickartist@gmail.com