Local artist hopes to empower women in International Women’s Day event

2020 was a challenging time for most people and it was in the midst of the pandemic when Sarah Armstrong decided to actively do something to help her mental well-being.

The Ellesmere Port-based artist said initially painting was just a “positive distraction” but she soon realised it was her "personal therapy" and something she couldn’t imagine giving up.

Sarah told the Globe: “I hadn’t painted since I was in school but when the pandemic hit I wanted to do something positive to support my mental health so I just thought I’d give it a go and I instantly loved it.”

Sarah Armstrong with her work (Image: Laura McCann)

Despite Sarah’s passion for her newfound hobby, the paintings she’d created were deeply personal and it was a while before she showed other people her work, when she finally did, Sarah said she was “overwhelmed” by positive feedback.

Having given birth six weeks ago, the mum of three is set to embrace her creations at her first exhibition.

She said: “I’m delighted to be putting on my first exhibition, especially as it’s on International Woman’s Day. I feel women and especially mothers still don’t always get fairly represented as artists.

“Being a mum is massively important to me, but I can still do other things. Society often puts us in boxes and I want to teach my children that they should always step outside of the stereotypes and follow their dreams and I think that's reflected in my work.”

Sarah believes that unrealistic images of women’s bodies make many women feel negative about their own so focuses her work on celebrating the female form. 

She said: “The paintings for the exhibition are female nudes of all shapes and sizes. As someone who’s just been through pregnancy, I’m aware of the huge changes that our bodies go through and how women are viewed in the media and on social platforms.

“There is no such thing as normal, it’s just whatever is in fashion and I hope my art plays its part in empowering other women to know that their physical image shouldn’t define or limit them."

The event curated by Laura McCann takes place on Wednesday, March 8 at the Arts Bar on Hope Street in Liverpool. The exhibition will also feature work by Katie Gerrard a painter and founder of Nevaeh Nine, Katie Pinch a freelance graphic illustrator, Eileen Nicholson, who had her first exhibition last year, aged seventy and Steph Jones, founder of “Self Care Visuals”.