Stephanie Sandercock 

Cornwall based, self-taught painter, born 1969 in Lancashire, England.

Sandercock’s paintings have a mysterious force within them, perhaps mirroring the artist’s sense of being deeply grounded as she ‘plugs into’ the energy of the Cornish coastal rock. Walks along the coastline and surrounding countryside provide sources of inspiration. The colours, shapes, sounds and feelings play an important role when pouring emotion into each piece of work.

Her paintings are incredibly tactile, drawing in the viewer through intricate details. She uses limestone and marble plaster, acrylic and ground rock on aluminium and wood. She often uses natural muscovite mica which catches the light beautifully like sunlight on the waves or a seam of quartz in the rock.

Stephanie’s work has shown in several solo shows, many group exhibitions and regularly attracts collectors in the UK and internationally. Her work can be found in the Penwith Gallery and St. Ives Society.

Artist’s Statement

“My inspiration is found in nature and through meditation. I enjoy creating interesting textures by building up layers of plaster and acrylic. Using 24ct gold and natural muscovite crystals to reflect the light adds a magical element and like a mystery unravelling before my eyes, the process takes me to unimagined places. There’s an aliveness that can’t be measured as each piece reveals itself, giving me a sense of playfulness and freedom.” 

‘Wishes on the Wind’ 2025 review – “The first thing one notices about Stephanie’s paintings is their physicality as art objects. How well-crafted they are which gives them a strong presence and their rich colour palette that shines out onto the eye.

The show’s title ‘Wishes on the Wind’ refers to the power of ‘ritual directed thought and acts of sound’ to create desired effects in the world of human consciousness. The geological strata, as symbolic visual structure, has always been present compositionally in her images. In creating these works she demonstrates her own understanding of the time event that we are living through and sharing in.

In these works, she signs the beginning of a new time cycle age of a higher consciousness for humankind. They are spiritual works in physical form, and in that, account for their strong effect on the viewer”. – John Charles Clark. St. Ives Times & Echo.

 ‘Imaginary Pathways’ 2024 review – “I have watched Stephanie Sandercock’s painting grow ever stronger, both visually and in scale over many years. Of importance is her signature style that combines her ‘self-personality’ and visual techniques used to create them, which make them immediately recognisable.

 Her abstraction is very different from that of the earlier St. Ives Modernist School. Her influences being more geological and organic.

 There is an emphasis on high key ‘spiritual colours’, balanced with earth brown, greys, blacks and whites of nature’s palette. Her show is well hung giving her works space to breathe and demonstrates their strength and visual power.

 Stephanie is yet another of the wave of younger women who together have become a dominant force in the St. Ives Art Colony in recent years. Her work manages to remain earthed while reaching for the spiritual realms.” – John Charles Clark. St. Ives Times & Echo.

‘Alchemy’ 2022 review – “Her deep closeness to these rocks, particularly those along the shore at Gwithian, was such that she felt compelled to paint them, and so successfully it led her to being elected as a full member of the Penwith Society of Arts in St. Ives, earlier this year.

Her fourth solo show Alchemy, held in the Studio Gallery within the Penwith Gallery. One of the meanings of the title she has given her solo show is ‘a miraculous transformation’, and although she doesn’t change the base metals she uses in her work into actual gold, she comes close to doing so.

It’s safe to add that most viewers will be happy to accompany her on her journey. From Wild Ideas and Tiger Iron to Evening Clarity and Magnetic Field her three-dimensional, semi-sculptural compositions are as accomplished and appealing as they are impressive and highly individual. Well worth a visit.” – Frank Ruhrmund. St. Ives Times & Echo.

 ‘Godolphin To The Sea’ – 2018 review – “Many will remember her first, Gwithian Rocks, held there two years ago, acclaimed at the time as a promising debut, the works in her current show more than fulfil that promise, and should not be missed. 

In every sense this is an impressive show.

As appealing as it is accomplished.” – Frank Ruhrmund. St. Ives Times & Echo.

 

Memberships

  • Penwith Society of Artists – Full membership
  • Ives Society of Artists

Solo Exhibitions – The Penwith Gallery, St. Ives

2026 – The Golden Thread
2024 – Imaginary Pathways
2022 – Alchemy
2020 – Hayle To Halzephron
2018 – Godolphin To The Sea
2016 – Gwithian Rocks

 

Exhibitions

2025

  • Studio Gallery, Penwith.  2-woman exhibition – ‘Wishes on the Wind’
  • The Penwith Gallery Member’s Exhibitions
  • STISA Member’s Exhibitions
  • The Crypt. 2-woman exhibition – ‘Traced by Time’

2024

Solo Exhibition – Imaginary Pathways – Penwith Gallery

  • The Penwith Gallery Member’s Exhibitions
  • STISA Member’s Exhibitions
  • Thompson’s Galleries London – ‘Spring Show’

2023

  • The Penwith Gallery Member’s Exhibitions
  • STISA Member’s Exhibitions
  • The Crypt. 2-woman exhibition – ‘Compass’
  • Thompson’s Galleries London – ‘The Autumn Picture Show’

 2022

Solo Exhibition – Alchemy – Penwith Gallery

  • The Penwith Gallery Member’s Exhibitions
  • Thompson’s Galleries London – ‘Cornish Perspectives’
  • STISA Member’s Exhibitions
  • The Crypt. 2-woman exhibition St. Ives – ‘Three Deep’
  • Thompson’s Galleries London – ‘The Autumn Picture Show’

 2021

  • Associates Exhibitions – Penwith Gallery
  • ‘GOD IS…’ Chaiya Art Awards Winners Exhibition. OXO Tower London
  • STISA Member’s Exhibitions
  • Enys House, Falmouth
  • The Crypt. 2-woman exhibition St. Ives – ‘Mark This Moment’

2020

Solo Exhibition – Hayle To Halzephron – Penwith Gallery

  • IMPACT Exhibition, Chaiya Art Awards. London
  • Associates Exhibitions – Penwith Gallery
  • STISA Member’s Exhibitions

2019

  • Associates Exhibitions – Penwith Gallery
  • Enys House, Falmouth.
  • Open Studios Cornwall.
  • Coast Colour Canvas, The Lizard
  • Polpeor, Lizard Point.
  • STISA Open Exhibitions

2018

Solo Exhibition – Godolphin To The Sea – Penwith Gallery

  • Associates Exhibitions – Penwith Gallery

 2016 – 17

Solo Exhibition – Gwithian Rocks – Penwith Gallery

  • Art Nou Millenni Barcelona
  • Brick Lane London
  • Associates Exhibitions – Penwith Gallery