An independent art store is preparing to open its doors in Warwick this month.

Sarah Stott, the artist behind Crazy Rah Art, is relocating her shop from Fargo Village in Coventry to a new space on Smith Street in Warwick, and it is due to open on 19 July.

Despite once believing she would never leave Fargo Village, due to its vibrant community, Scott said the opportunity to move to Warwick was too good to pass up.

She explained: "Warwick has always been a sort of dream location, so I felt I had to take it."

Based in Nuneaton, Sarah is entering her ninth year in business.

Her journey into professional art began later in life, following a difficult period in her mid-30s.

Sarah Stott, the artist behind Crazy Rah Art, is relocating her shop from Fargo Village in Coventry (image supplied)

"I didn't pursue it as a proper career until I was nearly 40," Sarah said.

"In my mid 30s, I had ME (Myalgic Encephalomyelitis) and sort of lost five years of my life to basically just sleeping.

"I couldn't function because of chronic fatigue syndrome, which is another name for ME, and it just took life.

"When I started to get better, I decided I wanted to make a mark and that's when I decided I wanted to do my art as a business."

Initially trained in printmaking, Sarah never considered herself a painter. 

Initially trained in printmaking, Sarah never considered herself a painter (image supplied)

That changed after a spontaneous purchase from Hobbycraft.

"I'm not a painter at all, but I found some paint in Hobbycraft and went, 'oh, this looks interesting, I'll have a play with this,' and everybody soon told me to stop printing and paint.

"The painting was a surprise to everybody."

The transition to painting offered Sarah more creative freedom than printmaking, which she described as "tight," "concise," and "researched to an inch of its life."

"What I do now is very organic" she added.

"I start with a blank canvas, I don't think about what I want it to look like, it just happens.

"There is no picture in my head of what I want it to be like and I don't tend to have colour ideas or anything until I get to that sort of point.

"I lay the texture and then me and my paintings talk, we have a conversation and I think, you know, we'll do a bit of this and we'll do a bit of that, and it's very organic process."

Sarah's painting method involves working on large canvases, which are then cut into smaller pieces priced between £13 and £35, a deliberate choice to keep her artwork affordable (image supplied)

The new Warwick location will reflect the current layout of her store, with a studio space downstairs and the shop area upstairs.

Sarah's painting method involves working on large canvases, which are then cut into smaller pieces priced between £13 and £35, a deliberate choice to keep her artwork affordable.

She also offers framed options, so "people don't have to worry about getting a frame."

"It's very much about keeping my art accessible and affordable for everybody."

In addition to selling her work, Sarah runs a range of workshops, including Paint Pouring, Abstract Art, and Team Building sessions (image supplied)

In addition to selling her work, Sarah runs a range of workshops, including Paint Pouring, Abstract Art, and Team Building sessions, which can be booked online.

To learn more about Sarah or to purchase her artwork, visit the Crazy Rah Art website.

Opening on 19 July, the new store features a studio and sells affordable, organic art (image via Nub News)