Sara Siân Biography
Born 1974, England
Painter & Mixed Media Artist
Sara was christened Sarah Jane but has adopted Sara Siân (pronounced ‘ Sara Shaan’) – the Welsh version of her name given to her by her Welsh Grandfather.
Sara Siân currently resides in Johannesburg, South Africa with her husband Dion and two children, Bethany and Joshua and ‘studio companion’ Marley, their Golden Retriever.
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Lives and works in Johannesburg, South Africa
Having completed a BA Honours Degree at the Liverpool John Moore’s University in Illustration, Sara successfully practised art for a number of years in the UK whilst participating in various exhibitions before giving in to her urge to travel.
Sara Siân spent a year travelling through Africa and South America before finally settling in South Africa in 2001. After that Sara ran a successful Graphic Design business for many years whilst focusing on raising her children. However, the burning desire to paint and create art has never been far from Sara’s mind and heart and is now once again her focus.
As a result of an abundance of beautiful striking architecture, the town of Brighton in the UK was the subject matter and inspiration behind Sara’s former work with the famous West Pier a dominant feature. This led to West Pier Trust commissioning Sara to paint the near-derelict Grade 1 Listed Pier which was subsequently presented to HRH The Prince of Wales.
Africa changed Sara’s creative focus however and her love of African wildlife and it’s people is a theme more recently coming through.
“A need to convey the ‘raw’ beauty and emotion of my subject matter is my main aim”, says Sara. “It is important to me that my work connects with people in some shape or form”.
Working in either oils or mixed media with a penchant for including gold leaf, Sara Siân’s current work is both striking and emotive, beautifully and skillfully capturing the essence of the subject matter.

Exhibitions, Competitions & Commissions
‘WOMEN ARTISTS MAKING THEIR MARK’ EXHIBITION
Sept – Oct 2020
The O’Hanlon Centre for the Arts, Mill Valley, California
‘ALL WOMXN MATTER’ EXHIBITION
Sept 2020
Julie Miller Contemporary Art Gallery & Art@Africa, Johannesburg
AFRICA ART COLLECTIVE @ THE MALL OF AFRICA IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE JULIE MILLER GALLERY
Sept – Oct 2019
The Mall of Africa, Johannesburg
RAP DAINFERN, POP-UP EXHIBITION
Sept 2019
Dainfern Country Club, Johannesburg
ROTARY ARTS FESTIVAL GTC PORTRAIT COMPETITION
May – June 2018
Rosebank Mall, Johannesburg
JOBURG FRINGE EXHIBITION
Sept 2017
Victoria Yards. Lorentzville. Johannesburg
WEST PIER EXHIBITION
Jan 2000 – Jan 2001
West Pier Trust Centre
Brighton, UK
CLAIRMONT GALLERY EXHIBITION
July 1999
Studies of Brighton Architecture
Brighton, UK
‘LIVERPOOL LIFE’, Artist’s Club Exhibition.
July 1999
Studies of Liverpool Architecture
Liverpool, UK
‘CONTRASTS’, Solo Exhibition
May 1998
Studies of Brighton’s West Pier – Brighton Festival
Brighton, UK
‘POINTS OF VIEW’, Solo Exhibition
May 1997
First Solo Exhibition – Studies of Brighton
Brighton, UK
‘DRAWN FROM EXPERIENCE’, Exhibition
May 1996
Exhibitoion with the Liverpool Police Dog Department
Liverpool, UK
‘STRUCTURAL INTERPRETATIONS’, Exhibition
May 1996
Studies of Brighton Architecture
Brighton, UK
ARTIST’S CLUB EXHIBITION
Jan 1996
Architectural Aspects of Liverpool
Artist’s Club, Liverpool, UK
MERSEY FERRIES EXHIBITION – VISION FEST
July 1995
Liverpool Maritime Museum, Liverpool, UK
PRIVATE COMMISSIONS
2019
WEST PIER COMMISSION
May 1999
Commissioned to paint Brighton’s West Pier by the West Pier Trust which was subsequently presented to HRH The Price of Wales
USF COMMISSION
Oct 1998 Commisioned work permanently housed at Liverpool’s infamous Liver Building
VAT CUSTOMS & EXCISE COMMISSION
Jan 1998 Commission for a painting of the newly built Headquarters for display and promotional use