Sarah Gillings on her new Art Work in Saltdean!

Latest TV News Editor, Mark Walker, speaks to the local artist, Sarah Gillings. Well known for her mural in the Brighthelm Gardens and social change art in The Banksy Tunnel, ‘S.o.S’ aka Sarah Gillings creates art that makes a difference. As Mark finds out, as an award-winning Sussex artist, Sarah has unveiled a brand-new nature-themed mural. The neglected WC toilet block adjacent to the Saltdean tunnels was in desperate need of energizing and Sarah was commissioned to bring it back to life in the areas second phase of community funded regeneration. As people need to experience the outdoors more and more, emphasis has been focussed into creating inspiring and uplifting art. As one of the artists commissioned by the Saltdean community for the fun and engaging mural in the Saltdean Tunnels earlier this year, along with fellow Brighton artist REQ, Sarah understands the benefit that public art can have on a community. The Saltdean Tunnels mural is a 3600 immersive experience that reflects the wealth of marine life on the region’s doorstep, including dolphins and seals. The mural has brought joy and hope to residents and visitors during these uncertain and frightening times. Sarah, aka ‘S.o.S’, first creates a digital vision of the mural, bringing in elements of the local area. Many of the species featured in Sarah’s work are endemic to Saltdean and need protection. This latest mural features 2 giant lifelike butterflies, bees, and a snail as well as local coastal flowers. The mural is then spray painted freehand by Sarah and her new apprentice Zara, who is learning the skills of public mural art from Sarah. Layers of weatherproof paint are gradually built up to give the vibrant and uplifting mural depth. It is then completed with a graffiti-proof wipe-clean covering. The Saltdean WC’s mural painting was carried out whilst adhering to social distancing from the public and to health and safety guidelines. Working with spray paint often brings its own challenges. The wind and rain we have experienced recently have hampered progress. Street art in Brighton, and surrounding areas, has been very much under discussion lately as it is often associated with antisocial graffiti, tagging and throw-ups. This is a perception that Sarah is working to change through her charity U CAN SPRAY – the UK’s first street art charity. U CAN SPRAY works with community groups and young people, as well as in prisons to positively re-engage people through the power of street art. Sarah Gillings aka ‘S.o.S’, mural artist, said: “Yet again the local residents of Saltdean show us that when you want to get something done – fund it collectively! I am so proud that my latest work created is bringing such joy to the people passing by. Some of the comments just keep me quite warm and fuzzy while I’m painting in the windy elements! The local area on the cliffs has a wealth of wildlife and seeing small creatures in huge proportions, I hope, will help us consider the environment more.”