‘I believe in painting from your inner source. The role of ‘memory’ is crucial. Our memories help us make sense of what has gone on in the past, and the past is the cornerstone of what gives us our sense of being who we are today. Memory, however, can be very selective and easily influenced.'
Sam Read’s art making is centred around equanimity, change, assurance, timelessness and mystery. The single figure is the anchor, the multiple layers become her way into a conversation that is felt, rather than explained. Read’s work deals with her past and her past memories - the relation of and interplay between the two.
The artist specialised in Illustration at school, additionally receiving a BA hons Degree in graphic design at Exeter College of Art and Design. After graduation, however, the graphic design sector began to feel restrictively rigid, and conforming. Embarking on a new career as a mixed media artist, Read soon established her own path, one of fluidity, imagination, and interpretation.
Today, Read lives and works locally, near Richmond Park. She is never without a sketchbook to hand, jotting down fleeting images, memories, and feelings which later develop into more detailed ideas and images. Her favourite sujects - people, birds and flowers - are saturated with mystery, nostalgia, and sentiment.