Sarah Key

Dr Sarah Key is a Senior Lecturer at Staffordshire University, where she combines her academic career with a professional practice in contemporary painting and art theory. Her expertise spans painting, digital dialogue, and socio-political critique through anthropomorphic imagery.

• PhD in 'Grids, Painting In A Dialogue With The Digital' (2008, Loughborough University)
• MA Fine Art: Painting (2001, Surrey University)
• BA (Hons) Fine Art, First Class (1999, University of Derby)

Her research interrogates contemporary painting through layered acrylic works that explore human ethical codes, behavior, and socio-political ideologies. This includes studies of medieval imagery, Victorian children's photography, and taxidermy collections. Her work has been exhibited internationally and resides in public and private collections.

Key's recent articles reflect her engagement with visual arts, contemporary art, and painting techniques, often focusing on anthropomorphic imagery, digital influence on art, and ethical ideologies.

Scientific Awards:

• Threadneedle Prize (2011)

Teaching & Supervision: She supervises postgraduate research, including practice-led PhDs, and teaches drawing workshops, theoretical readings, and tutorials at Levels 4, 5, and 6. Her pedagogy integrates studio practice with academic rigor.

Research Funding: Projects since 2008 have attracted grants from the Arts Council, British Council, and Arts & Humanities Research Council, supporting her exploration of human ideologies through painting.