About Saskia

I was born and grew up in Worcestershire and studied Graphic Design and Illustration at Leicester Polytechnic. I have lived in Sheffield since 1990 where I am raising my 2 fantastic kids.

Over the years my interest in the genre of portraiture has grown and I have been undertaking portrait commissions since 2007. I work mainly with acrylic and oil paints on canvas. I also work in watercolours, gouache, chalk pastels and conté and I have displayed some of my other work in the gallery section. I love to draw from life but I am also inspired by the spontaneity and informality of photography. I have even painted from mobile phone photos as I love the blurred edges and the movement, fun and intimacy they capture. I like to take very contemporary images and present them in a traditional way. I admire the Dutch masters such as Rembrandt and Vermeer but also Mary Cassatt, Kathe Kollwitz Norman Rockwell and contemporary portrait artist such as Lucian Freud and Jonathan Yeo

I am enjoying working from my brand new beautiful little workroom which opens onto the garden.  Why not come and visit and view some of my artwork for Open Studios Sheffield on Sunday 13 and Sunday 20 June 2010.  I also now offer one-to-one tutoring in drawing and painting techniques, still-life and portraiture.  Please contact me for details.  I have displayed some childrens’ work in the gallery section produced during my time teaching portraiture to 9-11 year old students at Greystones Primary School in Sheffield.

For information on commissioning a portrait please see the commissioning section of this site.

Please contact me for any advice or information about commissioning a portrait and also to leave comments or feedback on my work.