painting

Sandhya’s journey in this world, and in the world of art, began in the foothills of the Himalayas, in the Dehradun valley, India. It was perhaps the serene surroundings, besides something special within, that created an instant bond between her and the magnificence of colours and hues around her. The bond and the urge to recreate some of the magic of Nature, manifested with early experimentation through lines and colours on walls and floors. The urge only grew more intense with time, and so did her expressions and experimentation, albeit, with more formal media, methods and training.

Her formal grounding in art can be traced to two of the most famous schools in India, Shantiniketan and Baroda (now Vadodara). She walked her early formal paces in art under the guidance of Dr. Dwijen Sen, a disciple of the renowned artist of Shantinikatan, Nandlal Bose. Her formal exposure to art was rounded off for her under the tutelage of Proffesor Ranbir Saxena, a well known landscape artist and a student of Bendre. These formal endeavours culminated in 1977, when she earned a Masters in Fine Arts.
But, that culmination was only to formal learning. She never stopped at that, and neither did she permit the formalism of structured education to constrain her creativity and urge to break new grounds.
She has nearly fifty years of professional experience behind her, rubbing shoulders with some of the top contemporary painters of her times.

She believes in art working for upliftment of humanity in general and likes her art to spread a sense of positivity, harmony and happiness across the globe.

Harinder Sahota is a figurative and portrait artist based in West London. A graduate of the University of Plymouth with a BA (Hons) in Illustration, Harinder has spent over 15 years building her craft as a teacher, painter, and illustrator.

A few years ago Harinder took a year long sabbatical from teaching to fully immerse herself in her artistic practice. This allowed her to explore personal projects, refine her brushwork through workshops and courses, and take on a variety of commissions.

Her work has been showcased in group exhibitions across the UK, including collaborations with ArtCan, an artist-led collective. As a proud member of Harrow Open Studios, she opens her creative space to the public, offering a glimpse into her artistic process and the stories behind her portraits.

“I love looking at faces, seeing how the light moves across a face, the different compositions and colours. In today’s fast-paced world, these milliseconds are so interesting to capture within my paintings.”

Deeply inspired by the works of Sargent, Velázquez, and Sorolla, as well as contemporary artists like Tim Benson, Jane French and Susan Lyon, Harinder brings a unique perspective to portraiture. Her art goes beyond mere photographic accuracy, aiming instead to uncover and narrate the essence of her subjects. With every brushstroke, she builds a character, crafting portraits that resonate with depth and individuality.