Kate is a landscape artist and teacher who works from her studio near Avebury in Wiltshire. She employs a wide range of materials, but is primarily interested in the dynamic nature of watercolour and mixed media. She runs weekly watercolour classes from her studio.
Inspiration for painting comes almost entirely from the natural world, particularly the beautiful countryside to be found in central Wiltshire, and the coastal areas of West Wales. Whenever possible, the creative process is started out in the landscape with dynamic drawings and painted pieces. Ideas are then brought back into the studio for further development with different materials. Kate finds that this removes the imperative to produce a finished piece of work outside, leading to a more spontaneous approach, and providing opportunities for new ideas and ways of working.
Whether in watercolour or acrylics, paintings are built up over time with many layers of transparent and opaque colour, giving depth and texture. Drawn and scribed areas are often used to create structure and form within the painting, and although they may become buried, they form an integral part of the process. Achieving a sense of place and atmosphere is the primary focus of Kate’s work, aiming to capture a moment in the day, season or the changing weather.
A deep interest in drawing informs all of Kate’s work and natural materials such as charcoal, graphite and chalk continue to be used in different ways in her mixed media paintings.
Kate exhibits her work through local galleries and has participated in Marlborough Open Studios for many years. She has more recently exhibited with the Made in the Pewsey Vale gallery, and enjoyed a successful solo show in 2025 and a joint show with 3 other artists in 2026.
Offers: Demonstrations, Workshops, Mini-workshops
Media: I specialise in watercolour and watercolour/mixed media for demo/workshop purposes. Mixed media includes acrylic ink, Indian ink, charcoal fixed with soya milk, pencil/coloured pencil and gouache. I regularly include one of these in a demo.
There is a strong emphasis on drawing in most of my work, which I can include if required. However, I usually try to keep this to a minimum so that non-drawers aren’t too terrified, and to keep up the tempo of the workshop.
Subjects: Natural landscapes and seascapes/coastal scenes. I very occasionally include buildings and other manmade structures, but prefer not to.
Will travel to: Up to an hour and a half from Wiltshire
Email: katewadeartist@gmail.com
Phone: 07769 923497
