Sarah McConkey
Over the fifteen years the organisation has been in existence we’ve collected together a rather wonderful group of people who bring their skills and experience to our projects. Our freelance team is one of the aspects that make Digital Voice stand out from the crowd and as I’ve been writing this series, it’s fascinating to see the range of skills that these brilliant people bring to the table. Most of them have a digital or film-making background; Sarah McConkey brings something different.
Sarah is a talented artist and teacher. She studied Fine Art at university and once she’d completed her Masters she continued her practise as a painter until her children were born. After she became a mother, she focussed on teaching at Sunderland College. Sarah was selected to exhibit a painting at the National Portrait Gallery in London as part of the BP Portrait Prize as well as winning awards for her work:
“I was winner of the Worshipful Company of Painter Stainers Prize at the New English Art Club in 1996. In 2003 I won 1st Prize as part of The People Show at the University of Northumbria.
Sarah brings her vast experience to our digital drawing courses:
“I have taught for various organisations over the past 25 years and am now starting to grow my practice as a freelance artist/teacher. In recent years I have honed my digital art skills. Regular attendance at traditional drawing sessions ensures that none of my basic skills are lost.”
I asked when Digital Voice became part of the picture:
“My partner has worked for Digital Voice for 15 years, so I have always known about the varied and interesting projects they have been involved in. At first, I attended Photo club sessions [our long-running project at Newcastle Central Library] with my children. Most recently I have enjoyed working on the Digital Drawing courses, showing what can be achieved using iPad programmes such as Procreate.”
Our digital drawing courses have been a huge success since we launched them, with participants reporting how much their mental health and wellbeing has improved; I asked Sarah what she gets from these projects:
“I love to work with new people. Community projects provide different settings and different challenges - all are interesting, and I feel I learn something new with each job.”
And what’s next for Sarah?
“Weirdly, out of the blue, I had an enthusiastic email from someone renting an AirBNB cottage that contained one of the paintings sold from my student degree show in 1995. The time has come to revisit the issues and practices I was dealing with as an artist over twenty years ago.”
Thanks for being part of the team Sarah!
If your group or organisation would be interested in the Digital Drawing courses Sarah talks about, please get in touch.