Sandra Thomas lives and works in Elgin, a lush area of land circled by mountains in the Overberg region of South Africa. She has painted since the age of seven and studied under renowned artist Jack Lugg, who in turn trained with Walter Battiss, one of the leading artists of the twenty-first century. Sandra graduated B. Tech. Degree Cum Laude in Fine Art at the Walter Sisulu University in 2005.

She draws her inspiration from the natural environment and enjoys exploring tranquil, reflective spaces.  When she lived in East London, she explored the beaches and open spaces around the city, the Kai River and the then Transkei. In the rural village of Lady Grey she captured the mountain rocks, plants and landscapes of the Witteberg mountains. In Bathurst, situated between Makhanda and Port Alfred, the wild, untamed landscape of the Albany Thicket inspired works of mystery and memory. "I like places where no one else goes. I try to portray the quietness there," she says. Her work is drawn in fine detail, imbuing her artworks with an ethereal quality. "There is a sense of tranquillity and mystery in Sandra's drawings and paintings." Marion Whitehead - Country Life April 2020

 

A transformation is taking place in her work, as she moves towards the inclusion of figures and faces in her work - “a metamorphosis of what I see; not a botanical rendition, but a personal vision.”