Alexandra (or Sandie as she
prefers) Gardner was born in 1945 and brought up in Glasgow. From the age of 5, she displayed an extraordinary
aptitude for drawing and painting which ultimately led her to studying at the
Glasgow School of Art from 1963 to
1967.
Working closely under the
tutelage of many of the
Glasgow greats, including Head of School,
David Donaldson (appointed Painter
and Limner to Her Majesty the Queen in Scotland), as soon as Sandie graduated,
she was offered an immediate teaching and lecturing post within the school where
she remained for 21 years.
Throughout her teaching career, Sandie painted for exhibitions
principally in a number of prestigious galleries in London, Edinburgh and
Glasgow and had many widely acclaimed Solo Exhibitions. Sandie retired from teaching in 1988 to become a full-time
professional artist and is recognised as one
of Scotland's most accomplished painters.
With her work hugely sought after by galleries and collectors alike,
Sandie’s paintings can be found in many important corporate, private and public
collections worldwide.
David
Donaldson, when commenting on an exhibition of Sandie’s work in 1994, said “I
first knew this painter as a young student, but I was unaware of the intense
struggle she endured to become the painter now before me”. Also saying that Sandie “presents this
exhibition with distinction, maturity, human kindness and complete
understanding of her strength”