sarah webb was born in february 1948 in nashville, tennessee, where she was the fourth of five children born to samuel stone butler and carolyn horton. webb developed an early interest in art and by the age of twelve was taking classes in general art and oil painting. settling on a career in fine art , she received her formal art training at the university of tennessee, earning a bachelor of arts degree with honors. later she did post graduate work at vanderbilt university.