Artist Sarah McDonald wearing dungarees and stood in front of one of her paintings of a tree

Sarah McDonald


With 25 years of experience as a professional artist who has exhibited her work all over Australia and overseas, South Australian artist, Sarah McDonald is now well known for richly textured and evocative oil paintings.

McDonald is being recognised around Australia for her landscapes painted in her signature technique using palette knives. In each painting, there is a quality that evokes an emotional response from every viewer as they re-tell their own story, stirred by memories and images of their own past.

Each painting reflects Sarah’s ability to capture time and place, using her exaggerated light and colour to depict her subject matter. Her tactile landscapes are responses to her love or hiking and her connection with the places she might travel to. Sarah now paints full time in her Adelaide studio and is the Director of her private Art School for adults.

“My paintings are expressive and tactile oil paintings inspired by the Australian landscape,” she says.

“I respond to the landscape through vivid use of colour, textured surfaces and energetic mark making to help capture my interpretation and memory of where I have been.

“I make my paintings by creating a variety of textured surfaces using palette knives. The oil paints physicality is what I enjoy , embracing the ‘accident’ and painting intuitively, I allow the work to develop and change throughout the building process.

“Strong colour contrasts, exaggerated light and a solid composition are all crucial elements in all my work, as is the thick oil paint applied to render a tactile experience. I invite the viewer to make their own connections and draw on memories and experiences.”

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Artist Sarah McDonald painting in her studio.

Exhibitions and awards

Solo exhibitions
2022: Grainger Gallery, Canberra ACT
2021: Golden Summers, Moree Gallery, Moree NSW
2020: TOSCANA, Adelaide
2018: Murdoch Hill Wines, Adelaide Hills
2017: Moree Gallery, Moree NSW
2016: Murdoch Hill Wines, Adelaide Hills
2015: DogRidge Gallery, McLaren Vale SA
2014: The Gallery on Waymouth, Adelaide
2013: Murdoch Hill Wines, Adelaide
2008: Gallery 139, Adelaide
2006: Browns Gallery, Adelaide
2005: Maree Mizon Gallery, Sydney
2005: Browns Gallery, Adelaide
2003: Browns Gallery, Adelaide
2003: Intrude Gallery, Melbourne
2002: Greenhill Galleries Adelaide
2001: Browns Gallery, Adelaide
1999: Browns Gallery, Adelaide
1998: Liberator Gallery, Adelaide
1997: Browns Gallery, Adelaide

Group exhibitions
2022: Grainger Gallery, Canberra
2021: Grainger Gallery, Canberra
2021:Art Images, Adelaide
2019: St Ignatius Art Show, SALA
2019:Spring Art , Adelaide
2018: Moree Gallery, Moree NSW
2017: Birds Gallery, Melbourne
2017: SpringArt, Adelaide
2017: SALA St.Ignatius Art Show
2016: SpringArt, Adelaide
2015: Hill of Grace Restaurant, Adelaide Oval
2015: SALA St Ignatius Art Show
2014:SpringArt, Adelaide
2013: SALA st. Ignatius Art Show
2012: Stirling Fine Art Show
2012: Goodwood ArtHouse
2010: Arispace Gallery, Adelaide
2008: Gallery 139, Adelaide
2005: Agora Gallery, New York USA
2005: Maree Mizon Gallery, Sydney
2004: Hill-Smith Fine Art Gallery
2003: Smart Art, Adelaide
2003: ARTS SA, Hindley st, Adelaide
2003: Prospect Gallery, Adelaide
2002: Arterial Gallery, Adelaide
2002-2003: Art Images Gallery, Adelaide
2000: Greenhill Galleries, Adelaide
2001: Greenhill Galleries, Adelaide

Commissions
2005: AIR APARTMENTS. The Pickard Group/Tectvs Design
2005: DHL: Macquarie Goodman Pty Ltd
2005: Private Residnce, Adelaide
2006: Australian Paralympic Committee
2006: Lin Fox: Macquarie Goodman Pty Ltd
2006: Hino: Macquarie Goodman Pty Ltd
2017: Lights View, Horizons Retirement Village
2018: Journey Beyond, Head Office Adelaide

Artist in residence
2014: St Peter’s College Adelaide
2017: St Peter’s College Adelaide

Art prizes
2021: Finalist Adelaide Hills Landscape Prize
2021: Finalist Kennedy Prize
2021: Finalist Lethbridge Landscape Prize
2019: Finalist The John Villiers Outback Prize
2019: Finalist Adeliade Hills Landscape Prize
2019: 3rd Prize The John Villiers Outback Art Prize
2018: Finalist Fleurieu Biennale Art Prize
2017: Finalist Pro Hart Outback Broken Hill Art Prize
2016: Finalist Fleurier Food and Wine Prize
2016: Winner People’s Choice Unley Art Prize
2016: Winner Port Pirie Art Prize

Artist Sarah McDonald working in her studio space