Sarah Underwood

‘Art at the Bridge #5’, opening on 7th February 2014 - 7th August 2014

This successful partnership with Tower Bridge and Southwark Arts Forum was established in 2011 as part of Tower Bridge’s ongoing commitment to engage with, and acknowledge, the talents of the local community; and its regular exhibitions provide an opportunity for artists to gain exposure to an international audience of approximately 2,000 visitors daily.

‘Connections’
On display in the atmospheric Engine Rooms, the once mighty powerhouse of this iconic Victorian structure, the exhibition’s theme will be ‘Connections’, both physical and emotional, reflecting Tower Bridge’s role in connecting culture and communities.


The show will have 10 works of art by disabled artists from Southwark Arts Forum on view, across a range of mediums, including paintings, prints, photos, drawings and mixed media.

Each of the artists was asked to draw inspiration from their own experiences referring to the word "Connections", in my case of a profound hearing loss. My piece ‘With Bells and Whistles' refers to the connections I make in my mind in order to decipher the riddle of words and sounds around me to facilitate useful conversations drowned out by tinnitus and clashing noises, and the difficulties I have experienced in connecting with others due to hearing loss.

David Wight, Visitor Development and Services Director, City of London Corporation, said:
“Our aim in holding these exhibitions is to provide a high-profile platform for some of the brightest aspiring artists who live and work in our local area, whilst offering an interesting new dimension to what we offer visitors to the Tower Bridge Exhibition. London is one of the art world’s most vibrant and culturally diverse hubs, so to be able to give exposure to just some of these inspiring artists in such a spectacular setting as Tower Bridge is a privilege for us.”

Visions of Dr.H

An exhibition comissioned by Sweet Art show casing artistic tributes to Bill Cosby in his character Dr. Huxtable from the popular 80's tv show, The Cosby Show.

As a contributing artist, my piece focussed on the eccentric patterns and design of his jumper collection and his fondness for jazz, and freestyle dancing as shown in the show's opening credits.

My piece is called "Dance like nobody's watching" and is a celebration of life and the pleasures of freedom of expression.

Assisting children of all abilities at a one day event set up by inclusive minds as part of the Imagine Festival which ran all week. The aim of the day was to promote equality and diversity in children's publishing including panel discussions surrounding good practice. I was one of several children's book illustrators asked to help children to draw, be it imagining themselves or an ideal character in a picture book. We asked them what they would like to see and helped them visualise and use their imaginations to make cartoons, or characters including a giant canvas for free expression!

I exhibited my piece entitled With Bells and Whistles at the Espacio Gallery as part of their winter Exhibition.

I was commissioned by Littlewood's to write and illustrate a short story based around the winning entry of the competition for the national bedtime story campaign.

Created and starring Ellie Statham, aged six from Hertfordshire, the illustrated book, entitled ‘Me and my Ladybird’, tells the tale of her adventures with a magical ladybird called Lily in her garden.

It was then turned into a free to download 16-page story audiobook format voiced by pop star and mum of three Natasha Hamilton, who helped to judge the campaign.

The campaign was designed to encourage more bedtime story reading amongst kids in the UK and
ran through 19,000 primary schools across the country, seeing nearly 1,000 children aged up to seven years old enter a drawing competition. They were asked to create their own tale by submitting an illustrated storyboard based around their adventures with a magical friend.(see attachment) which I was asked to interpret as an illustrated story.

http://blog.littlewoods.com/2013/11/me-and-my-ladybird-competition-winner/

Harrow Association of Disabled People is a local charity formed to help and offer support to people with a disability within the borough of Harrow.

I work as a transition coordinator supporting young people with disabilities through transitional stages in their lives on a part-time and voluntary basis. This includes running classes and support groups and sharing information in areas such as self advocacy, safety and independent living. Previously I was responsible for coordinating the re-deign of their website and personally re-designing all their marketing materials, leaflets, brochures, fact sheets, banners, and providing ad-hoc illustration services.

In addition to this I produce and coordinate the design, writing and print of their quarterly magazine "Access" which is distributed to all the disabled people in the borough of Harrow.

They are a highly respected organisation leading the way in policy and training surrounding company legislation in fair practice towards disabled people and regularly provide support and advice not only to businesses throughout London, but also the local borough council.

I recently produced a series of poster and banner designs for use in "The Hardest Hit" protest march on parliament in opposition to current funding cuts to benefit and general services which provide equipment and a lifeline for disabled people.

HAD believe that equality and freedom for disabled people is a right and not a privilege and campaign for disability rights.

I was commission to design and paint a lifesize rhino to a cricket theme sponsored by Ageas Cricket ground which was later auctioned and raised £2,750 pounds for Marwell Wildlife Park's campaign and charity work protecting the survival of rhinos.

• Layout and design of all content and publications for print and on-line.
• Managing freelance staff, managing editorial teams, maintaining budgets.
• Develop new and existing publishing products. Create new products, art direction
• Prepare contracts and budgets, develop client relationships, managing printers and publishing systems
• Creating marketing materials and banners for exhibitions and conferences.
• Maintaining and developing the European website. Creating and designing monthly newsletters and job alerts.
• Overseeing print production, sourcing suppliers and photography, coordinating schedules for all publications.

• Managing 3 design studios, briefing and developing designs, providing art and creative direction.
• Managing 2 monthly magazines, commissioning all photographic shoots, imagery and advertising activity.
• Ensuring the efficient and cost effective production of all design and print.
• Controlling the production and schedule of all printed materials, managing the printer’s fulfilment of all ex-works material to clients. Ensure receipt of materials and satisfaction with final product.
• Negotiating price, schedule, and refunds with suppliers.