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Kate is a colourist painter, with her use of colour, light and composition being as important as the subject. Her landscapes include trees, castle ruins, and reflections in water. Application of paint by palette knife and brush creates textured layers, resulting in a richly coloured mosaic. Up close the work often appears abstract, then comes into perspective from a short distance. Kate works in a number of different media, equally being happy with oils, acrylics, gouache and pastels.
The trees in her work are painted in a subtle earthy tones, using a harmonious palate of colour. Viewers have wanted to walk into some of her paintings to feel the ambience of the woods, and hear the rustle of wind in the leaves.
With the series on ruined castles Kate looks at their history, occasionally referred to in the title of the painting. They can be an unexpected view of the ruin - not the usual tourist snapshot! Her layering technique here works well to depicting stone as well as foliage. Kate’s ability with colour and texture beautifully captures the soft deep colours from moss to tawny reflections in rivers and pools, as well as the variation of hues and tones in buildings.
Kate’s work comes in sizes from small to large – she is equally at home with paintings on a large scale as well as intricate small paintings. Her attention to detail means there is always more to be seen especially in larger works. Reference material is from her own photos taken locally or on holiday. Her influences include Bauhaus colour principles, the Glascow Boys and the Scottish Colourists.
Kate has completed commissions for clients, house portraits, Heritage paintings of childhood places and favourite views.
As well as landscapes, Kate has enjoyed painting a series of illustrations for traditional stories including the Skeleton Woman and the Crescent Moon Bear. Her graphic design skills and ability for illustration led to developing a range of children’s accessories, from decorated terracotta pots, pencil pots, chalk-boards to brooches. Most of the designs are inspired by well known nursery rhymes.
Kate gained a Diploma in Graphic Design at Canterbury College of Art followed by courses in Fine Art and colour work. She’s exhibited paintings since 1980, designed home accessories, and recently been tutoring, taking art demonstrations and running workshops.
Work has been shown at the Mall Galleries, RWA, Southampton Art Gallery and with the SWAc and Bruton Art Society. Kate regularly shows work on the Frome Open Art Tral and Somerset Art Weeks. Her work can be seen at the First View Gallery in Stourhead NT.
Events Organiser for Frome Open Art Trail 2018 - 24
Member of Artists303, Bruton Art Society, New Bath Art Club and the Bath Art Circle.
