“My big, Horsham District Year of Culture Project,” is explained by artist Sarah Duffield, “I’ve been working as a full time artist for approximately six years now. Some people like my work, some people don’t and that’s fine, our lives and homes would be terribly boring if we all liked the same thing… I have found a way of seeing the world that excites me and it is that way of seeing which I try to express when creating a painting.
“Last year I was commissioned by Horsham District Council to produce four landscape paintings of well-known views of the district for the Year of Culture project. We asked residents for suggestions of well-loved views and comprised a list. I bought a map (slow worker and rubbish at geography) and spent a month discovering some the beautiful areas right on my doorstep.
“I met lots of lovely people who were often happy to point me in the right direction, discovered many new places to get a great lunch, found tree houses, a beach, got lost in a forest (the geography thing) walked up some big hills, realized I am petrified of cows and that you need to break walking boots in before you tramp off for miles in them.
“After much consideration and walking we choose views spread across the district which we felt would be familiar to many residents: Knepp estate and ruin, the view from Beeding Hill, the Arun and chalk pits in Amberley and Chesworth Farm in Horsham.
“For Chesworth, I wanted to create an autumnal painting and after a number of visits, and what felt like a long wait, I was over the moon to finally arrive one morning to find the trees had turned golden, bronze, amber and deep red. You can see the spire of St Mary’s church nestled in the trees and the grand avenue of oak trees from the bench at the top of Great Horsham Hill field. In the distance the hills look pale purple – It was definitely “Worth the Wait”: I had my view and my colours.”
Colourful Places: The Multi-Coloured District, Sarah Duffield’s solo exhibition, is at Horsham Museum and Art Gallery Saturday 28 September- Saturday 14 December. The commissioned paintings will be shown alongside other works, sketches and working notes by Sarah.
Sarah will be at the museum from midday on Saturday 5 October to present four mini prints to the people who suggested the titles for the artworks. She will stay for the afternoon to answer any questions people might have about her work, her painting style and this project – everyone is welcome. Refreshments available. Following this exhibition, the four commissioned art works, which are property of the district, will be moved to various venues for accessible viewing by as many residents as possible.
For more information, including prints available for purchase, see Sarah’s website. Limited edition full size prints of “Worth the Wait” and all the HDYOC19 commissions are available in her website Gallery shop, plus standard prints, mini prints and greeting cards.
Friends of Chesworth Farm 
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