Hi there, I'm Karen, a self-taught realism artist based in Dover Kent, UK.

From a very young age, I was always passionate about drawing and colouring. In fact, one of my drawings was shown on the English TV program 'Vision On' when I was just 7 years old! As I grew up, I continued to experiment with different techniques and mediums, but I never really took my art seriously.

Instead, I pursued a career in catering and worked my way up to becoming a manager of a seaside café. While I enjoyed my work, I often found myself watching the people go by and daydreaming about their lives or the waves coming into the harbour. I guess you could say that my subconscious passion for art was always there, just waiting to be reignited.

It wasn't until later in life, when my children were in their teens, that I decided to retrain as a learning support assistant. I found purpose and determination in my career; training to become a teacher of art for young people with behavioural difficulties. I rediscovered my love for art by creating interesting and engaging lessons to capture and inspire my disengaged students.

Unfortunately, my health started to decline, which left me feeling low and unable to pursue many of the things I loved. That's when I turned back to art as an outlet for rest and relaxation and signed up for an online challenge to paint a portrait using the renaissance glazing technique. I was hooked and have been creating beautiful acrylic and graphite pencil portraits of people and pets ever since.

One of my other passions is seascapes. I feel a deep connection with the sea and its changing mood, presence, and unpredictability. I'm fortunate enough to have a home studio with a window that provides me with a daily dose of inspiration.

I'm motivated by my love of creating artwork that people can enjoy, and I always say, "I'd love to paint that!"

So if you're looking for a beautiful portrait of a loved one or a stunning seascape, don't hesitate to get in touch. I can't wait to create something special just for you.