Sarah Danes Jarrett

A self-confessed neat-freak, Sarah Danes Jarrett was born in 1964 in the United Kingdom and raised in Zimbabwe. She studied commercial art at the Harare Technikon, completing her diploma in 1985. In 1988, she moved to South Africa, where she began her career in the design industry.

In 1998, upon becoming a mother, Sarah Danes Jarrett left the design world behind and bought her first blank canvas, oil paints, and brushes. Her career as a fine artist began immediately, quickly capturing the attention of art lovers and collectors around the world.

Sarah Danes Jarrett is admired for her natural simplicity and honest approach. She openly shares that her motivation is not rooted in politics or ideology, but in the pure love of painting and the creative journey it offers.

Her work has always focused on people—especially faces. She is drawn to the translucency and reflective quality of skin, and the powerful presence of eyes that seem to tell stories beyond words. She intentionally uses colours that do not resemble natural skin tones, adding an element of abstraction and emotional depth.

Her unique style is a paradox of chaos and control. Brazen, aggressive brushstrokes collide with soft curves, sharply defined by precise edges. This tension reflects Sarah Danes Jarrett’s own personality—a desire to create order in an ever-changing world. Her work, while bold, bright, and blocky, always maintains a sense of deliberation. White plays a pivotal role in her paintings. She begins with layers of vibrant colour, and then defines the form using white paint, revealing the portrait in its final stages.

Today, Sarah Danes Jarrett is recognized as one of South Africa’s leading artists. She has been featured in numerous magazines and has exhibited in international art shows, with her work frequently selling out.

In May 2022, Sarah Danes Jarrett showcased her work in a female-only group exhibition in Hamburg, Germany, as part of The Travelling Art Gallery. Later that year, in November, she participated in another group exhibition in Palma de Mallorca, Spain. Her art was also featured in the ARTSY online exhibition New Beginnings in February 2023. In May 2023, she took part in a group show in Kassel, Germany, and in 2024, her work was featured in the Positions exhibition during Berlin Art Week, further solidifying her international presence.

In Cape Town, Sarah Danes Jarrett exhibits her work at The Artists Gallery, continuing to inspire and captivate audiences with her emotionally charged and visually striking portraits.