Life No.4 - Artist
2002 Ryder Cup at The Belfry, Sarah was filmed sketching the golf course, players and public, mentored by renowned artist Harold Riley (who painted Pope John XII, Prince Philip, John F Kennedy and Nelson Mandela).
From Salford, Manchester, Harold cemented from an early age a life-long friendship with L.S. Lowry and Sarah was keen to learn from him.
“See how the crowds move around the course, in unison, like a wave, a symphonic crescendo, then they fall silent to observe the play, like a musical pause” - this resonated with her.
The DP World Tour (then the PGA European Tour) then commissioned a collection from Sarah reflecting the action and emotion of Europe’s Victory in The Ryder Cup.
From her garret studio in Battersea to a barn outside Aldeburgh in Suffolk she produced 18 paintings which the following May were exhibited at Wentworth during the BMW pga championship, filmed by SKY TV with the artist explaining the project.
Given special permission from the DP World Tour to be on-course sketching and to use any photographs as research for the project.
Charismatic Captain Sam Torrance roaring with pride as Paul McGinley, who scored the final winning putt hugged his playing partner. Cameraman at close quarters beaming the live footage out globally.
SOLD £5,500 to Elliot Bernerd, of Chelsfield who owned Wentworth at the time.
Oil on deep box canvas with thick impasto yellow direct from the tube. Size 150 × 150 cm.
A similar painting taken from the celebratory moment. Now in the collection of Elliot Bernerd.
Paul McGinley leaps high at the 18th. A glimmering hint of the iconic Ryder Cup trophy adds extra fizz to the painting.
Just to show how close it was, the USA’s Paul Azinger pumps his fist as he clinches a putt. It was fun to get to grips with their daily changing colour uniforms. Golf can be very colourful!.
With some of them I included script - of team names, of scores scratching into the oil paint, vigorously embedding extra emotion.
Left: Darren Clarke clinches hands with USA’s David Duval, who never took his dark glasses off and everyone wondered if he even had eyes.
Right: partners in Irish triumph, Paul McGinley & Darren Clarke, really pumped up fun duo to follow.
These animated two are in the collection of Grahame Harding of First City Care.
Darren Clarke doesn’t have a touch of jaundice - he is basking in the golden glow of the Ryder Cup Trophy!
The DP World Tour had given me specific instructions for the paintings to enhance their chosen colour schemes in the Möet et Chandon pavilion beside the 18th green and to emphasise Europe’s victory with a focus on vibrant blues/yellows and reds.
A ‘calmed down’ version I painted which hangs in the Headquarters of The DP World Tour at Wentworth. George O’Grady, the CEO of the then PGA European Tour and Scott Kelly the Marketing Director loved it.