Sandra Blackburne trained as an illustrator and graphic designer before undertaking a successful career in advertising and corporate graphic communication. She graduated in design and illustration from the Queensland College of Art, and has a BA honors in Australian literature from the University of Sydney. She has painted continuously throughout her career.

As well as her regular exhibitions and workshops, Sandra has taught in Sydney at the Willoughby Art Space for the last 4 years and runs regular workshops from her studio in the Hunter Valley. She travels frequently throughout Australia for inspiration.

Her work explores the textures and layers of the Australian landscape. “I have always been drawn to the natural world both micro and macro images. The country has an awesome energy which is beyond our ability to control. I try to show this in my work. I’m interested in the experience of the individual confronted with the sublime, and much of my work focuses on man’s attempts to control a land which can’t be controlled. Thus the paintings focus on the power of nature to reassert itself.”

Exhibitions:

2022  Solo exhibition ‘Open Spaces’ at The Incinerator Art Space, Willoughby

2019 Solo Exhibition Coast to Coast October 2019 at The Incinerator Art Space

2017 Shadow Country Exhibition, opening April 27 2017

2016 Finalist Hunters Hill Art Prize, Council Chambers, Hunters Hill

2016 Featured in Colour In Your Life TV series aired on channel 74

2016 Solo Exhibition T1, TWT Creative Precinct, Living Art Weekend 2016

2016 Group Exhibition, ‘Drawing the Line’ sketchbook exhibition, Me Art Space, Atchison St, St Leonards

2016 Group Exhibition, ‘Simply Black and White’, Me Artspace, Atchison St

2015 Finalist Hunters Hill Art Prize, Council, Hunters Hill

2015 Group Exhibition, ‘Water’ T1, TWT Creative Precinct, Atchison St, St Leonards

2015 Exhibited North Sydney Council, ‘A sense of Place’North Sydney

2015 Solo Exhibition, ‘Silent Witness’ Depot Gallery, Danks St, Waterloo

2015 Solo Exhibition, ‘Memories’ Me Art Space, Atchison St, St Leonards

2014 Joint Exhibition, ‘Connecting’ Willoughby Council Art Space, Chatswood

2014 Group Exhibition, Me Art Space, Artarmon

2013    Group Exhibition, ‘The Storybook Factory”, Depot 2 Gallery, Danks St

2013    Solo Exhibition, ‘Passages’ Depot Gallery, Dank Street, Waterloo

2012    Willoughby City Council Studio Tour

2011    Group Exhibition, Sydney Artist Studios, Artarmon.

2011    Group Exhibition, Foyer Exhibition Space, Willoughby City Council

2011    Group Exhibition, ‘FRANS For Art’s Sake’, Sydney College of The Arts, University of Sydney.