Sarah Vivian took an Honours Degree in Education in 1975, with art and craft as the main subjects, and followed the craft avenue professionally. She set up a craft business in 1977, and for over ten years she was a handloom weaver and tailoress in a craft centre in Devon. She moved to her own textile gallery in 1988 and diversified her work, producing a wide range of items in painted silk, printed fabrics, batik, embroidery and applique, and especially patchwork. The gallery also sold the work of over 150 craftspeople, and held exhibitions. From 1982 to 1990 Sarah was a Council Member of the Devon Guild of Craftsmen, and during this time served on various craft committees, and the local Chamber of Commerce. Her gallery in Devon was sold in 1994, and she moved to west Penwith in 1996. Sarah has now been painting full time since 1998.

 She says: 'My painting is an expression of my love of the land in west Penwith ...I try to express the magic or earth energy, the essence or resonance of a place, a stone, a tree. I look for the symmetries and similarities of patterns, the inherent fractals of growth and movement.'

Her work has been widely shown in Cornwall, and her most recent paintings have been done to commission (see website for details). Approximately 500 of her original oil paintings are held in private collections.