About

The Artist

Sarah Martin

Sarah Martin is a South African artist whose practice explores the deep connection between material, memory, and meaning. Her work often begins long before paintbrush touches paper, in the soil itself. After a career in Speech Pathology and Audiology, Sarah made the bold decision in 2021 to pursue her true passion for art, establishing her creative practice, eSJay Artistry.

Through the creation of natural pigment watercolours made from earth, wine, and other organic matter, she transforms raw materials into vessels of story and time.

For Martin, the process of gathering and processing these materials is as vital as the finished piece. Each pigment carries traces of its origin, the vineyard’s soil, the sediment of a riverbank, the history of a place, becoming a quiet conversation between human experience and the earth’s own timeline.

Rooted in mindfulness and reflection, her work invites viewers to slow down and reconnect with the land that sustains us. Earth and Tannin is both a tribute and a dialogue, a meeting point between nature’s ancient memory and our contemporary search for meaning, told through colour, texture, and the quiet alchemy of process.

Working primarily on paper, Sarah enjoys pushing the boundaries of scale, from intricate miniatures to larger, immersive works. Her attention to detail and ability to evoke emotion through colour and texture allow her to create pieces that resonate with viewers on multiple levels.

Affiliated with the Miniature Art Society of South Africa and The Drawing Guild, Sarah continues to refine her craft and contribute to the art community.

Exhibitions:

Degrees of Realism 2023
The Miniature Art Society of South Africa's Annual Exhibition 2023
Jaws and Claws 2024
UK-based Hilliard Society of Miniaturists' Annual Exhibition 2024
Fine Lines Exhibition 2024 at Art in the Country
The Miniature Art Society of South Africa's Annual Exhibition 2024
Degrees of Realism 2024
Group Exhibition - MASSA (Prison Break Market)
Connect Through Colour - 33 Bree Street/The Artist Gallery Cape Town 2025
The Miniature Art Society of South Africa's Annual Exhibition 2025
Earth & Tannin Solo Exhibition - Kanonkop Wine Estate 2025