Sandra Art4All: Proud 2 Create Exhibition & Open Studio

Proud 2 Create Open Studio Exhibition marks a decade of Sandra Art4All, a pioneering studio founded by artist and educator Sandra Hampton to support 11 deaf, autistic and neurodivergent artists. The exhibition brings together over 150 vibrant works spanning drawing, painting and photography, celebrating the joy of making art and the power of diverse creative voices.

Exhibiting artists include Celia Balfour, Nessie Bigg, Katie Byrne, Allegra Dams, Bethany Davies, Olivia Joslin, Dalibor Kovac-Stokes, Alex Mortimer, Jessica Park, Harriet Steady, Gareth Tudor and Sandra Hampton.

Over the past ten years, the artists have grown in confidence and skill, with some exhibiting at prestigious venues including the Royal Academy and Turner Contemporary.

Alongside artistic development, the studio has supported artists to experience the full creative process, from making and exhibiting to selling their work, ensuring artists receive the majority of profits from sales. This milestone Open Studio exhibition in The Pie Factory Gallery honours their shared journey and stands as a testament to creativity, community and the beauty of difference.

It is an opportunity for the viewer to see the artist at work, alongside their artwork. Visitors will be able to meet many of the artists on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays.

SANDRA ART4ALL

Sandra Hampton founded Studio Art4All in 2016 following the sudden closure of the Royal School for Deaf Children in Margate, where she had worked as an art teacher across the school and college for over twenty years. Drawing on her deep commitment to art education and extensive experience supporting young people with additional needs, Sandra established a bespoke studio environment for talented deaf, autistic and neurodivergent artists.

Communication can be a barrier for many of the artists who attend Art4All, and Sandra’s use of British Sign Language alongside a total communication approach ensures the studio remains an inclusive, calm and supportive space. Rather than focusing on disability, the studio centres each artist’s unique abilities, creative instincts and ambition, encouraging freedom, confidence and self-expression.

Sandra believes passionately in the artists she works with and strives to create the conditions in which they feel secure enough to be brave and to share what is happening in their inner worlds. Her own practice is shaped by time spent in the studio, exploring sensory and accessible techniques, adaptive tools and joyful approaches to making. Colour, experimentation and shared joy sit at the heart of Art4All.

Website: sandraart4all.co.uk
Instagram: @sandra_art4all
Facebook: @SandraArt4all.co.uk