Sandra Parker opened her Barnard Castle high street gallery selling her paintings of sheep in the spring of 2017. The business has gone from strength to strength. Reporter Wendy Short went to meet her
SANDRA Parker’s artwork hangs on the walls of countless homes in many countries throughout the world, and she has been surprised at the diverse range of customers who visit the gallery and those who buy original paintings and prints through her online shop.
Mrs Parker specialises in sheep paintings, in particularly the Swaledale breed, but over time she has added local landscapes as a background.
“When I started out, I imagined I would sell my paintings exclusively to people who were especially interested in sheep,” says Mrs Parker. “However the Swaledale sheep is an iconic image and many people who visit the region like to have something to remind them of a memorable holiday. The popularity of the breed is astonishing and some of my customers simply find their appearance very attractive.
“I have also increased the number of commissions that I have taken on in recent years and have painted several pictures of flocks in their native hill surroundings.
“One painting that I completed recently was requested as a present for a breeder who has a long-established line of pedigree Swaledales and the farm was used as the backdrop.”
A self-taught artist, Mrs Parker has always enjoyed painting and has been working with oil paints for almost two decades. She has her own large library of photographs to work from because she says “sheep don’t stand still for long enough”.
She adds: “I booked a course of formal art lessons, but the tutor took the brush from me and painted on top of my work, which I found very off-putting. Therefore I only attended three sessions and then I gave up. My solution was to keep practising until I found a technique that suited me.
“In general I use an oil canvas paper, but I will prepare my own boards when time allows. Acrylic paint is interesting, but oils give my work a depth and a richness of colour. But they are not used in the traditional way, as I prefer a much thinner consistency. I use the Griffin brand oil paints, which are fast-drying.
“Some artists will work on several oil paintings at once but I can’t work in that way, as I find that I can only concentrate on one picture at a time. I will usually fit in my housework as I wait for each layer to dry.”
Mrs Parker moved to Teesdale after operating from a gallery in Kirkby Stephen.
Born on a farm in Nidderdale, she was involved in managing the family’s Swaledale flock when she was growing up. Having tried a number of different jobs, she most latterly worked as a civilian in the North Yorkshire police service.
Although she does not have her own flock, she has always liked sheep.
“The Swaledale is the breed that I was most familiar with during my childhood and it has always held an appeal for me. I like its character – there is a particular defiance about the way it looks and the wool and markings are very attractive. Swaledales are interesting to paint and interesting to farm and they also fit in well with the local landscape.
“When I first took up painting seriously I experimented with a range of subject matter. Sheep were usually featured, but I also produced pictures of landscapes and wildflowers.
“However when I took examples of my work into a gallery in Muker, the owner said that he could see potential in the sheep paintings and asked me to bring half a dozen which he would put on display. They sold quickly and I decided to focus on sheep – I very rarely paint anything else nowadays. I have also painted Rough Fells, Texels and Herdwicks to commission.”
Her husband, retired Metropolitan police officer Phil Appleby, is the face behind the counter at The Sandra Parker Studio, while she works from home in her studio near Greta Bridge.
Over time, she has expanded the range of products in the studio and included work by Judith Walker, Steff Ottevanger and Jason Lowes, among others.
Her latest project is the writing of a hard-backed coffee-table book, which will feature a number of her paintings, as well as detailing her journey from amateur to professional artist. Two prominent new characters which have been the subject of recent paintings will also appear in the book, entitled “Sit Theesen Down”. These are Dot and Betty, a pair of Swaledale ewes named after Mrs Parker’s mother and aunt.
“I have always wanted to write a book and I had a small printed pamphlet which people could pick up in the gallery,” she says. “It was very popular and several customers suggested that I take a more formal approach and write a book about my work, so I have taken up the challenge.
“I have made public the fact that I will be launching the new book at my painting exhibition at Richmond Station this October, so that has given me the incentive I need to have it completed by that date.”fast-drying.
“Some artists will work on several oil paintings at once but I can’t work in that way, as I find that I can only concentrate on one picture at a time. I will usually fit in my housework as I wait for each layer to dry.”
Mrs Parker moved to Teesdale after operating from a gallery in Kirkby Stephen.
Born on a farm in Nidderdale, she was involved in managing the family’s Swaledale flock when she was growing up. Having tried a number of different jobs, she most latterly worked for North Yorkshire police service as a civilian.
Although she does not have her own flock, she has always liked sheep.
“The Swaledale is the breed that I was most familiar with during my childhood and it has always held an appeal for me. I like its character – there is a particular defiance about the way it looks and the wool and markings are very attractive. Swaledales are interesting to paint and interesting to farm and they also fit in well with the local landscape.
“When I first took up painting seriously I experimented with a range of subject matter. Sheep were usually featured, but I also produced pictures of landscapes and wildflowers.
“However when I took examples of my work into a gallery in Muker, the owner said that he could see potential in the sheep paintings and asked me to bring half a dozen which he would put on display. They sold quickly and I decided to focus on sheep – I very rarely paint anything else nowadays. I have also painted Rough Fells, Texels and Herdwicks to commission.”
Her husband, retired Metropolitan police officer Phil Appleby, is the face behind the counter at The Sandra Parker Studio, while she works from home in her studio near Greta Bridge.
Over time, she has expanded the range of products in the studio in Horsemarket and included work by Judith Walker, Steff Ottevanger and Jason Lowes, among others.
Her latest project is the writing of a hard-backed coffee-table book, which will feature a number of her paintings, as well as detailing her journey from amateur to professional artist. Two prominent new characters which have been the subject of recent paintings will also appear in the book, entitled “Sit Theesen Down”. These are Dot and Betty, a pair of Swaledale ewes named after Mrs Parker’s mother and aunt.
“I have always wanted to write a book and I had a small printed pamphlet which people could pick up in the gallery,” she says. “It was very popular and several customers suggested that I take a more formal approach and write a book about my work, so I have taken up the challenge. I have made public the fact that I will be launching the new book at my painting exhibition at Richmond Station this October, so that has given me the incentive I need to have it completed by that date.”
