Sheryl Roberts | Contemporary Artist: Artworks & Biography

Born in Leeds, England, Sheryl Roberts quickly decided to follow in the footsteps of her father, a painter. It was through him that she discovered the vibrant lights of Turner and the meticulous compositions of the Renaissance masters, two determining influences in her work. After studying at the Jacob Kramer School of Art, she graduated from Leeds University and worked as a teacher while participating in numerous exhibitions throughout the UK. In 2001, she decided to devote herself fully to her work as an artist. She then created an artists' collective in an abandoned fire station, and organized workshops and exhibitions for the most disadvantaged. Guided by her passion for the light that penetrates the skies, her painting gradually becomes more abstract, and she now divides her time between Leeds and the beautiful landscapes of the Pennine Hills, which are a huge source of inspiration for her. She rises at dawn to contemplate the rising sun and takes hundreds of photographs which serve as a starting point for her work. She first works in her studio in the country, layering layers of pigment-rich acrylics and oils to give her work depth and vibrancy, before finishing them in the city. Her colorful paintings strive to capture those moments when the heavens meet the earth in a flash of white light, allowing the amazed viewer to glimpse another world. Through her work, she seeks to convey a sense of joy and hope, and the certainty that light always overcomes darkness.