Profile

Kate Chitham

“My work has always had a strong illustrative element and painting was a natural progression.”

I finished my training in Graphic Design in the early 80s, with a degree from The London College of Printing. After a brief spell working for a weekly advertising magazine I left to develop a varied business as a self employed designer/artist. My first years were before the development of computers and my customers tended to be businesses just starting up. First projects would be logo design and stationery, progressing to leaflets, brochures and even designs for trade stands. I have also worked regularly with conservation projects using my design and illustrations for interpretation panels.

Alongside graphic design I have 40 years experience in decorating reproduction antique furniture and have worked on several house painting projects using paint effects and decorative painting. Since my work has always had a strong illustrative element, and I have been a life long sketcher, it was a natural progression to explore painting.

When my husband retired from farming we moved to south Shropshire and embarked on a house project, so finding time for painting was difficult. But this year I have taken up my sketchbook again and am filling it with views, wayside trees and other treasures. The local landscape is equally inspiring and challenging! The themes of home, environment and growing that have interested me throughout my life continue but there is excitement in seeing where that artistic journey will take me next.