“Soundlessness intensifies my visual response.” Meet Sarah O’Dowd, Deaf artist based in Northumberland

Did you grow up deaf? What were your experiences like?

I’ve been profoundly deaf from birth. I was brought up orally til I discovered BSL at the age of 13. I went to couple of mainstream schools with a Resource Base for Deaf pupils. It was a mixed bag. Like many others I experienced loneliness and isolation but I had a group of deaf friends of my age who became life long friends.

Those days there were no CSW but I got by. I believe that my love for reading  became my lifeline. I faced a couple of barriers along the way especially a refusal from a college who thought I would be a ‘strain’ on their tutors. But I fought back and it made me even more determined to get where I am now.

When did you first start painting?

From early age I was always exposed to art by my parents and I visited lots of art galleries. My grandparents lived next door to one of the famous Ashington Pitmen Painters and I used to watch him paint. I had a good art teacher at school who saw the potential and encouraged me to develop my skills.

After doing A levels I went on to do an art foundation course at Sunderland Uni and afterwards I completed a fine art degree at Newcastle University. Ever since then except for a long period of absence due to ill health, I have exhibited in numerous galleries across the region.

Have you always lived in Northumberland? What do you love so much about the area?

Yes, I have lived in Northumberland all my life.  I am fortunate to live in a place where I am drawn to the never ending power of its wild hills and coastline, steeped in history which inspires me to try and capture their beauty and drama. It is a case of ‘I was there and it looked like this’.

My work is strongly personal , contemporary and subjective, romantic even ; it is as if soundlessness intensifies my visual response to the natural world and I have developed an individual technique to give that response a ‘voice’ . Most of my work is done in the studio based on sketches and photos taken outside. I used oil, acrylic and oil pastels.

What is your favourite painting? Who are you inspired by?

I do not have any preference for a specific painting, but I am greatly influenced by the paintings of William Turner. I love his dramatic skies, expressive colourisations, turbulent often violent marine paintings. I am also inspired by the late watercolours of a German Expressionist Emil Nolde. They are vibrant, moody and his skies are spectacular.

How can people buy your work?

People can view my work through my website www.bigotter3.wixsite.com/sarahodowd

Sarah can be contacted on – Facebook – Sarah O’Dowd / Instagram – deafnorthumbrianartist / Twitter – @art_chick1971