NORWICH.- Visitors to the Sainsbury Centre for Visual Arts will be able to see artist Sarah Florence working in the studio until 11 April. Her residency is part of the Artist in Residence programme, which was launched in May 2006 when the Centre re-opened with a new state-of-the-art studio. Sarah Florence was the Sainsbury Centre�s first freelance artist consultant in 1995 and for more than a decade she has been helping adults and children develop their creative skills. This April she will take time to explore the permanent collection and make a set of paintings on canvas � she is keen for people to drop in and have a chat.

�After years of working with the Centre, I am delighted and excited about this residency. I won�t be working to a specific brief but will be painting and drawing, developing ideas based on my favourite objects in the collection. I�ll be like a child happily immersing itself in a sweet shop!� � Sarah Florence.

People calling in to see Sarah during her residency can expect to find her busy with a number of different projects. She plans to explore the Robert and Lisa Sainsbury collection through drawing in order to make a set of small paintings on canvas which develop the real and imagined stories that the objects tell. She may also extend her work to create small sculptures in wax for bronze casting and also intends to produce a larger work based on researching the psychological, spiritual and ritualistic aspects of the collection.

Sarah Florence took a foundation course at Camberwell School of Art in London , from 1983 to 1984, where Martin Bloch had been a tutor 30 years later. Soon after she arrived at the college there was a major retrospective of Martin Bloch, the last exhibition of his work until Martin Bloch: A Painter�s Painter at the Sainsbury Centre (running until 15 April). Sarah came to Norwich in 1985 to study for a BA in painting at Norwich School of Art Design, quickly discovering the Sainsbury Centre, and decided that she wanted to get involved.

Since re-opening in May 2006 the Sainsbury Centre has had artists in residence each season. Felipe Tohi, a distinguished visiting artist originally from Tonga , created intricate sculptures with wrapped coconut fibres in response to the Pacific Encounters exhibition. George Nuku, a Maori chief from New Zealand produced stunning architectural structures made from Perspex and polystyrene. Rosanna Raymond, also from New Zealand , demonstrated traditional skills such as making grass skirts as well as sharing her skills as a poet and performance artist. The summer residences were followed in the autumn by painter Peter Sek, an artist of Ugandan origin, now settled in Norfolk .

Two further residencies are planned in summer 2007 to link with a major new exhibition, AfterShock: Conflict, Violence and Resolution, which is the Sainsbury Centre�s contribution to Contemporary Art Norwich 2007. From 14 to 28 July Gigi Scaria, a young film maker from India , and Dave Lewis, from London , will be based in the studio for a community project with the city for 2 weeks. From 25 to 31 August Jitish and Reena Kallat, both internationally successful painters based in Mumbai, will work with gallery visitors.

�I am delighted that the residencies offer us the chance to invite a wide range of artists to share their work and experience with us. We have learnt tremendously from our visitors from abroad but it is also important to honour the contribution to creativity and learning made by artists from our own region such as Sarah Florence� � Veronica Sekules, Head of Education and Research.