Kate was brought up on a farm in Leicestershire where her love of drawing began at a young age, making use of a constant supply of animals as her models. She painted her first animal portraits for family and friends whilst still at school and, after Art A' level, a degree in Arabic and Spanish at Edinburgh University and a brief spell working in London she decided to return to painting full-time. She studied trompe l'oeil, mural painting and specialist paint effects at Hampstead School of Decorative Arts in London, and now enjoys the diversity of working on both large and small scale commissions. Kate has also contributed to a number of exhibitions, including the recent Countryside Alliance Sporting Art exhibition at the Arndean Gallery, Cork Street, London, and 'Art for Youth at the Mall Galleries.

Her animal commissions have ranged from Household Cavalry chargers, racehorses and polo ponies, to pet dogs, foxhounds from various packs and the wolfhound mascots of the Irish Guards regiment. In between commissions she enjoys painting a variety of other subjects, including wildlife, farm animals and scenes from her travels.

Capturing the character of an animal is as important to Kate as creating a good likeness, and to this end she ideally prefers to meet and photograph her subject herself. However this is not always possible and she is happy to use a selection of good, clear existing photographs if necessary. She works in oils or pastel, in any size and usually (although not exclusively) with a plain background to draw full attention to the subject.

Animal portraits start from around £250, while mural/decorative work varies in price according to the scale and nature of the work.

Some of the paintings shown may be available to buy as originals, prints or postcards.

For more information or to discuss a commission, please click on Contact Me.