Sarah Beetson is British through and through. Talented, funny, fabulously eccentric and a perfect mixture of naive and controversial to make her work so full of spice. She came to Ulule with her “Sluts” project a few weeks ago, a set of cards based on her work about vintage pornography and a trip to Japan. Sarah is a freelance artist, graphic designer and illustrator now based in Australia, who has seen her work featured around the world.

My biggest influences are cult film, fashion, rock music and American literature. I count film director John Waters, designer John Galliano, fashion writer Anna Piaggi, artists Pierre et Gilles, illustrator Julie Verhoeven, musican Jeffrey Lee Pierce, novelist Richard Brautigan and poet Fran Landesman as just a few of my inspirations.

It’s funny that people so often say this yet I’m not sure how conscious of a decision that is. In a commercial sense, my illustrations are very often commissioned with a sway towards girls. Yet I’d say that probably 60 or even 70% of my influences are drawn from male sources - but I think this is purely a result of the creative industry being dominated by men, even now, as opposed to any kind of particular synonimity with either sex.

     

I have always been fascinated by gender and all of its ambiguity; sexuality and it’s colourful subcultures. 

I do love the initial period of research involved in any project, particularly when I am beginning to think about working towards a solo exhibition. I delight in a rigid, strenuous process of creation, so each stage has its rewards. If I had to chose, I think the final stages of creating a piece are the most rewarding - when all the elements have been married together and all that’s left is the cherry on top of the cake.

The decision was initially made on a visit to Melbourne when I looked at the comparatively low cost of living next to London, next to a rich arts hub and year-round sunshine. Then I met my Aussie cowboy and the move turned into a permanent one! I still spend 3-6 months at a time in London as often as I can, where my wonderful performer friend Ruby Blues rents me a cabin on her Motor Torpedo boat moored on The Thames.

I am currently working on a keep fit map of the USA for a client in Canada. I’m waiting to hear about a Live Art project at my local amusement park, and I’m in preparations for a terribly exciting exhibition at a very exclusive London address that I’m not yet to mention, in March 2012! I’m also drawing a fashion series as an homage to John Galliano’s work at Dior. A new foray into the world of comic books is also on the cards. Then after that I’ll begin work on my next solo exhibition, working title; “All Of The Places That I have Lived”.

It seems to be working awfully well for me so far! Massive thanks are due to the Facebook and social media revolution.

My friend Empress Stah recently funded her project to train to fulfil her lifelong ambition of performing in outer space, which I supported:

This was actually how I was introduced to Ulule and realised it’s potential to help me in my practice.