In September 2012, Sarah Pickstone won the prestigious John Moores painting prize with Stevie Smith and the Willow, joining a roster of winners that includes Richard Hamilton, Peter Doig, Peter Blake and David Hockney. The central figure of Pickstone's award-winning painting is based on a drawing by the poet Stevie Smith that was made to accompany her poem 'Not Waving but Drowning'. Philip Larkin said Smith was 'the authority on sadness', and the line drawing of an unsmiling figure, hair falling over her face and body, appears sad and unsettled.
More information
Title of artwork, date
Stevie Smith and the Willow, 2011
Date supported
2013
Medium and material
Oil, enamel & acrylic on aluminium panel
Dimensions
198.3 x 229 cm
Grant
7200
Total cost
7200
Get a National Art Pass and explore Walker Art Gallery
You'll see more art and your membership will help museums across the UK
National Art Pass offers available at Walker Art Gallery
Art Funded by you FAQs
Contact us
If you have a question about a work of art in our archive, please contact the Programmes team. We’ll be happy to answer your enquiry.