October 1, 2024

Feline Muses and Emotional Landscapes: The Art of Sarah Evans

Meet Welsh artist Sarah Evans.

A few months ago, a set of real estate photos went viral on Twitter/X, featuring two cats, paws up in the air, casually lounging in the shots. That’s how we first got to know their owner, Sarah Evans.

Sarah, a Welsh artist whose evocative paintings could almost be outshined by her trio of mischievous cats, Walter, Barry, and Flash, balances creative chaos with serene landscapes. Her quest to create landscapes that evoke deep emotion, dissolving the boundaries of the subject itself, gives her work a distinct presence. She also crafts unforgettable cat portraits, some of which have been showcased in exhibitions around the world.

In our conversation, we explore art as a connection between life and work, the peacefulness found in creative expression, and the empathy that comes from observing the world with intention. And, of course, we talk about her cats.

From practicing nurse to full-time artist, what inspired you to switch? What’s your earliest memory of painting, and what drew you to the medium? What purpose does it serve in your life, and what do you love (or maybe even find frustrating) about it?

Sarah: I continued with my art practice while working as a nurse. I was unable to keep up with commissions and selling whilst still working full-time. In 2018, I started working full-time as an illustrator and landscape artist.

My two earliest memories of painting are when I was about five or six and watching TV with my mum, dad, and brother. My dad would draw a cat or another object and pass it to me, and I would then copy what he had drawn. We would continue to pass back and forth funny drawings of the cats and perhaps a neighbour’s dog.

I also remember standing in a cold classroom at an infant school with an easel in front of me and painting a garden. I remember feeling proud of it.

After attending The Art Foundation at Swansea, we were encouraged to experiment with different mediums, and I continue to do this in my practice. It’s about creating a place or image and then thinking about which mediums you would need to create it.

Painting has helped me focus and, at times, be calm. The only time I find painting difficult or frustrating is when I paint a storm at sea. The painting requires control, but I feel unable to control the pattern of the waves.

We’ve seen your posts about your cats on Twitter. Can you tell us more about their personalities? How do they influence your daily life and creative process?

Sarah: I have three cats, “Walter From Port Talbot,” Barry, and Flash. Walter is the grey one and the oldest. I bought him for £20 from Port Talbot; he can be a bit miserable and grumpy and set in his ways. He’s not a mix of humans or cats and keeps himself to himself.

Barry was abandoned about seven years ago by some people who lived in the area. They left him behind:( I wasn’t looking to adopt another cat as I already had three at that time, but he was running from house to house, crying quite loudly and very hungry. He’d also been seen sitting on the doorstep of the house he had once lived in. So we adopted Barry. He loves to sunbathe. He thinks he’s in charge, but Walter from Port Talbot is in charge.

Flash belonged to a neighbour and his family. Their son was quite young at the time, and I think Flash was always trying to escape and find some peace. The neighbour asked if they wanted to adopt Flash. He’s a lovely cat, sociable with both people and other cats. They’re always doing something funny, so I take a photo and think I need to paint it.

What’s your secret to keeping your feline muses from ‘helping’ with your masterpieces, or do they sneak in their own creative contributions?

Sarah: My cat Stuey used to always saunter into my painting room and try to get up onto the paint table. He usually ended up sliding off and taking the paints and everything with him! Flash likes to take a nap when I’m painting. The others don’t really go into that room much. Barry usually sleeps in the living room with a blanket over his head, and Walter sleeps upstairs.

Some of your work features cat portraits. If your cats could paint, what kind of art would they create, abstract pawtraits or something more avant-garde?

Sarah: I think Walter might have painted industrial-type paintings of Port Talbot, where he originates from. I think Barry would do self-portraits, and Flash would do happy, bright abstracts of himself and the family, a bit like Matisse.

Do you have any specific painting rituals that involve your cats?

Sarah: The cats get fed first, and then I clean up the breakfast dishes. I always try to start painting early in the morning. I am a morning person and get my best work done, even if it’s to start something. I tend to go back to work mid-afternoon or sometimes early evening.

Why do you think many traditional artists have shifted to digital art? What keeps you so passionate about painting?

Sarah: Too many people call themselves “artists,” and I find that frustrating. Many students and people who may or may not have attended art school have put the effort in and the hard work. It’s about producing work, keeping a sketchbook, and filling a sketchbook, and it’s about being persistent.

” From working as a nurse, I appreciate that life is short, and you should get out there and be your best at whatever you enjoy or are passionate about. Don’t put off till tomorrow what you can do today. I’d like to leave some sort of mark that’s a painting of Flash or a sea painting that is enjoyed and seen by hundreds or even thousands of people. For me, I’ve left something behind, something positive and creative.

What projects are you currently working on? Do you have any solo or group exhibitions coming up that we should keep an eye on?

Sarah: I am constantly painting if not to pay the bills, but after seeing new things each day and thinking, I think I should paint that. I recently introduced my mum to painting, and I was thinking of putting together an exhibition of her work alongside mine.

If your art studio had a theme song, what would your cats pick for you?

Sarah: If I let them, they’d probably pick that muppet’s song “Ma Na Ma Na.”

We thank Sarah for sharing her story with us. You can follow her on Twitter/X.

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