About the Artist
My Story
“I have felt a presence that disturbs me with the joy of elevated thoughts; a sense sublime of something far more deeply interfused, whose dwelling is the light of setting suns, and the round ocean, and the living air, and the blue sky, and in the mind of man...”
I grew up in rural England and spent many of my childhood days outside. One of my clearest memories is the smell of freshly cut grass and late evening sunlight on the green fields around my home. As I grew older and started to travel throughout Europe for my day job as an archaeologist and museum professional, I would regularly sketch the landscapes as part of my travel diary. Whilst living in Sweden I created a series of sketches and then paintings that celebrated the "elemental" and often harsh feeling of winter in the North. These pictures explored the water, ice and rocks of the archipelago off Stockholm. Though I showed some of these works to colleagues in Stockholm, after I returned to the UK these formed my first solo exhibition at Clare Hall, Cambridge. Selling this first collection and the general response to my paintings was an amazing experience.
Archipelago I
After a long time away, working as an academic and raising five beautiful children, I have been able to return to my brushes and canvas. This has been faciliated by the build of a beautiful eco studio nestled in the corner of our woodland garden. Returning to a workspace surrounded by trees is a huge inspiration in my work.
My Art
My paintings move between observed reality and daydreaming. They celebrate that feeling of immersion in nature and power of a spontaneous immersive imagination. I love the immediacy of acrylic and mixed media on canvas and paper to achieve the effect that multiple layers of paint allow.
I think of all my work as types of landscapes, which explore the interplay between the elements, nature and botanical shapes in an intuitive and exploratory way. Rather than starting with specific places, my painting process begins intuitively, guided by colour and memory of spaces and natural forms. Through this process, experiences and memories of landscapes and it’s elements find their way into the work, so that the paintings reveal a combination of my experiences and memories.
A love of the East Anglian coast and marshland is another huge influence in my work and can be seen in my paintings that explore the horizon line. Colour combinations often start from my observations in the natural world, like the muted colours of a marshland at dawn. But these colours sometimes change and move away from observed colours as my paintings develop. My art is one of exploration: like a musician improvising. I never know quite where it will take me, but it is based on experience.
I produce theme-based collections every few months, which can be purchased through this website. I am also available for commissions. If you would like to discuss any piece of work in more detail please email me directly on katherineleckieart[at]gmail.com or through the contact page on the website.
My eco woodland studio built by UK-based Okopod
Contact me
I am based in near Cambridge, England. If you want to see work that you are interested in more closely do get in touch to arrange a visit or a phone call to discuss my work.
I send updates from my studio and news about the release of new works or events I am involved in every few months. Do join my studio newsletter to receive these.