I'm Katy Louise, also known as Kate (and Kathryn Louise when I'm in trouble!). I live in North Devon with my husband and Labradors. I'm autistic and see the world a little differently to most people. Looking at small details and patterns influences my creative style.
I've always loved art and photography. I'd spend hours as a kid drawing and painting, with a lot of help from my Dad and its still a shared hobby now. I didn't really like studying art at school as it felt too rigid so I went into the sciences instead.
In my late 30's my health deteriorated and I had to step away from my career in the environmental sector. Since then I have found myself spending more of my time on my art and learning to improve. I took a leap in early 2024 and joined the Endeavour project at ArtMash (a fantastic place with the most amazing artists!). It took us on a journey with their support to take my hobby and turn it into a new career that allows me to work a few hours a week around my health. Its a really exciting time for me and I'll be sharing my experiences in my blog, alongside selling my work.
My art and photography focuses on three subjects. I find the North Devon coast so inspiring and as a result it features heavily in my work. I’m also a big fan of flowers, some straight from my garden or a Devon hedgerow, others more whimsical from my imagination. The final focus for me is birds, particularly birds of prey. I’ve always love photographing them and can’t help but paint them afterwards! All of my feathers collection paintings and most of my seascapes are from my own photo’s as reference images.
My original paintings are for sale alongside limited edition A3 prints, where a maximum of 30 prints will ever be sold. Each is hand signed and numbered and comes with a certificate of authenticity.
Acrylic on artboard Eagle and Red Kite
My fascination with birds, particularly raptors, has been lifelong. The first two paintings of my Feathers Collection explore the success stories of reintroducing bald eagles in Canada and Red Kites in the UK after human activities put them at risk. I feel very lucky to have seen both of these magnificent birds in the wild and am very excited to see the Red Kite has now made its way to North
Devon. I hope to add a sea eagle to my collection as the birds introduced to the Isle of Wight have shown Exmoor is a great place to visit! Each painting is created from my own photos, starting with a pencil sketch.
Digital Bold Eagle
This piece also started as a pencil sketch. I photographed it and digitally painted it using my finger as a paintbrush on my iPad. So even though it’s digital it is very much made by hand. I really enjoyed the process and found it was very similar to using paint, adding layer at a time to build texture and depth.
Saunton Sands
Chocolate, sand and sea. Three of her favourite things.
All that’s missing is a cup of tea, while she waits for what nature brings.
Watching a leaf dance around the sand,
She wonders when it fell if it had hopes of where it would land.
Two spaniels chasing a ball,
The owners walk on while admiring it all.
Seagulls flying high over a stormy sea,
This really is a lovely place to be.
Brightly robed women huddle around
The sauna entrance where warmth can be found.
There’s laughter and friendship, community here,
Their sea swimming ritual they do year after year.
She walks passed them all, at peace and alone,
She smiled to herself, it’s time to go home.
Back in the car she catches her breath,
Her beach adventure complete, now it’s time to rest.
Get the kettle on, bake the bread,
Chores will be done as soon it’s time for bed.
She’ll sit in her armchair, and look at her phone,
Pictures of the beach will keep her from feeling alone.
Every friendly encounter, no matter how small,
Brightens her day and helps her walk tall.
Winters are magical here, so close to the sea
This really is a lovely place to be.