Artist Focus - Sally Quorn

Sally Quorn

One of our featured artists this month is Sally Quorn. You can visit Sally's Feature window at the Wynd Gallery from 20 October - November 8 and find out more about Sally and her work below.

The Wynd Gallery is a co-operative art gallery run by local artists.

The gallery offers an ever-changing exhibition of contemporary prints, paintings, sculpture, jewellery, photography, ceramics and textiles.

The gallery promotes the Arts in Letchworth Garden City and provides an exciting venue suitable for artists working across a range of contemporary visual arts media.

Throughout the year our artists will share their work through our feature window programme

You are our current featured artist at the Wynd gallery, with our featured artist window. Please tell us about what we can expect to see when we visit the gallery? Visitors can step into the darkly whimsical world of Skelly E Ton. Skelly is the Grim Reaper’s son, but he’s an anxious, gentle soul who’s trying to find his place in the world. You’ll meet his orange Kraken companion, who is very much an emotional-support creature, and spot the little yellow Ducky who helps keep Skelly grounded. There are original oil paintings and prints featuring their stories. Can you tell us a little about your journey into art? I’m a self-taught artist and began painting in oils in 2022. I started with wildlife paintings, learning as I went and building up my confidence with each piece. Alongside my wildlife work, I created Skelly E Ton: a character and world that let me explore stories, humour and emotion in a more playful, unusual way.

What materials or techniques do you most enjoy working with? I most enjoy working in oils. I like building up a painting gradually, taking time over the details and expressions that bring an animal or character to life. What’s one tool you couldn’t live without?

My mahl stick. It gives me somewhere to rest my hand while I work on the finer details. Where do you draw inspiration from? Nature, people, emotions, or something else?

I draw inspiration from nature and animals, but also from stories and emotions. Skelly’s world is shaped by feelings of being different or out of place, and by the hope of finding

friendship, happiness and somewhere to belong.

What projects or ideas are you excited to explore next? I’m excited to keep developing Skelly’s world and the stories of Skelly, Kraken and Ducky. There are lots more character moments and little adventures I’d like to paint. What’s one surprising fact about you that people might not expect? There’s often a little yellow Ducky hidden somewhere in my paintings. He’s Skelly’s grounding companion, and it’s fun to see if people spot him. Do you have a ritual or routine that helps you get into a creative mindset?

I don’t have a strict routine. Often an idea begins as a little thought or sketch, and I work it out as I go along.

Coffee, tea, or something else while you create?

I’ve become a matcha girlie! I usually drink it from my dark mug with a skeleton hand on it.

What advice would you give someone who wants to start exploring craft or art themselves?

Start with something that makes you curious or happy, and give yourself permission to learn as you go. You don’t need to have everything figured out before you begin. Enjoy the process and let your own style develop over time.