Sandra van Beurden Art

I am represented by The Mill Cove Gallery in Kenmare, County Kerry Ireland.

https://www.millcovegallery.com/sandra-van-beurden

I’m a British-born artist based in the Netherlands, having both UK and Irish heritage, so I am also often to be found in Ireland. Originally from Manchester, from a very young age, I loved making things. Growing up, I dreamed of becoming either an artist or a fashion designer. As a teenager, I was passionate about knitting and sewing, creating all my own clothes — including my wedding dress when the time came. Working with textiles has always been an important part of my creative journey.

After completing an Art Foundation Course, I took a more technical path, and studied Textile Design and Design Management at Manchester University, what was then called UMIST, which encompassed textile design with a focus on textile engineering and textile materials science. After a year working as a textile designer in the UK knitting industry, I decided to spread my wings and moved to the Netherlands in 1990 to join the European Patent Office as a patent examiner. In this role, I assess the novelty and inventiveness of new inventions in textile-related technologies, and help shape innovation in the field.

Over more than three decades my expertise has spanned synthetic and regenerated fibres, textile processing, nonwovens, technical textiles, absorbent articles, paper and fibre-based materials, and multilayer laminates. This highly technical and structured work has given me a deep appreciation for materials, layering, and surface quality — insights that continue to shape how I approach my visual art.

Although my day job is technical and legal, creativity has always been central to my life. While raising three children and also working, I nurtured my artistic practice with a focus on watercolours — a portable medium perfect for holidays — and took numerous courses in painting, drawing, printmaking, sculpture, clay modelling, raku, you name it I’ve done it.

I have been fortunate to work in an environment that encourages creativity, as my employer subsidises many on-site social clubs. For years I was an enthusiastic committee member running an Art Club for colleagues. I arranged art courses, invited guest artists, participated in weekly open studio sessions, and helped organise annual exhibitions for staff and their families.

In 2021, I set up a home studio and began devoting more time to my art. Since then, I’ve been painting almost daily.

About my Art Work

My art is a fusion of a lifelong passion for making things and a deep appreciation for materials, textures, and layering — shaped by formal training in textiles and decades of working with fiber technologies. Mixed media has become my chosen language, enabling me to explore and combine materials in ways that reflect the richness of both natural and manufactured worlds.

I use layering and texture to evoke tactile experiences and visual depth, inviting close engagement and discovery of the interplay between surface, structure, and color. My work is a continuous exploration of transformation — how materials shift, interact, and reveal new potential when brought together.

Rooted in both creativity and precision, I try to achieve a balance between intuition and technique. I am on a personal journey bridging a technical career with a vibrant artistic life. Guided by a process-driven approach, I have built a foundation that supports experimentation and growth. Ultimately, I aim to create pieces that resonate emotionally and sensorially, sparking curiosity and a deeper connection with the material world.