I've been very creative as long as I can remember, painting lots from around age 12 and by age 16 I knew I wanted to be an artist. I did some years Fine Art study, at school and then university, but as I left very early on, I feel for the most part I am self-taught.
I have a lot of different inspirations and influences, so many artists - too many to list. From Basquiat to Van Gogh, Peter Doig to Egon Schiele, as well as comics and graphic novels, including artists like Daniel Clowes. I also get huge inspiration from music and films, like Sleep Token, Radiohead, Studio Ghibli and Ghost in the Shell.
I work stream of consciousness mainly with my portrait work. This is a surrealist technique to connect more with the subconscious. I like to see where an artwork goes without controlling it so much with references or defined ideas. One idea leads to the next and evolves over time. Recently I've made some word art pieces too which has been fun. Other times I like to use reference images for inspiration or a different perspective on an idea. I mainly paint in oil, acrylic or watercolour, but sometimes watercolour inks, gouache, charcoal, coloured pencils or pastels. Each piece is an exploration and an experiment generally.
The landscapes are inspired by the Isle of Wight mainly, where I live, and places I've visited, like The Lake District, Bath and The New Forest. I like to work directly to the surface with no planning or sketching and build it up organically. I love lots of different mediums, switching mostly between acrylics and watercolour, but also oils, gouache, watercolour inks, coloured pencils, charcoal and pastels. I'm drawn to a dynamic contrast of light and dark, beautiful woodlands with an atmosphere or mystery about them.
ACHIEVEMENTS:
BERGHAUS via VCCP
I was very fortunate to be chosen to create a landscape commission for Berghaus in 2018. This was for their advertising campaign 'Time To Get Out' which was launched at the London Design Biennial across all media.
https://creativepool.com/vccp/projects/its-time-to-get-out-for-berghaus
https://www.vccp.com/uk/work/berghaus/time-to-get-out
'Berghaus launched its "Time to Get Out" campaign in September 2018 as part of a major five-year marketing initiative. Created by creative agency VCCP, the multi-million-pound campaign aimed to position the outdoor brand as an antidote to the stress of modern life, urging consumers to disconnect from digital distractions and reconnect with nature.
The initial phase featured oil paintings by up-and-coming UK artists like Steve Playdell-Pearce and Kitty Cooper, juxtaposed with provocative taglines such as "Stuck in meetings about meetings?" and "Is clicking ‘Next Episode’ the most exercise you’ve done today?". The campaign ran across out-of-home, press, TV, and digital channels until March 2019.'
ETSY
In 2012 I was lucky to be chosen to exhibit two portrait paintings with Etsy in London, as part of their OPEN Exhibition with around 14 artists from the UK.
'Etsy UK hosted the OPEN art exhibition in October 2012 to celebrate London Art Month. The event featured contemporary work by 15 UK artists, selected to showcase the diverse styles and practices found on the Etsy.com marketplace. The exhibition ran from Friday 17 October to Sunday 19 October 2012. The showcase highlighted a broad range of mediums, including painting, fine art ceramics, printmaking, and acrylic jewellery.'
https://en.paperblog.com/etsy-present-open-uk-etsy-artists-exhibition-in-london-1018986/
FOLKSY INTERVIEW
https://blog.folksy.com/2014/11/16/shop-talk-kitty-cooper
EXHIBITIONS
I have been exhibiting regularly on the Isle of Wight since 2005 at various galleries and events.
Group Exhibitions
‘OPEN’ Exhibition - Quay Arts - Newport IOW - 2019
Foal Arts Summer Salon - Depozitory - Ryde IOW - July 2015
Foal Arts Salon - Depozitory - Ryde IOW - December 2014
‘OPEN’ Etsy Exhibition - 5th Base Gallery - London - October 2014
Exhibition! - Big Wight Space - Rembrandt Gallery - Newport IOW - March 2013
Undecided Art Collective - Ventnor IOW - December 2012
Takeways - Quay Arts Centre - Newport IOW - September-December 2012
Green Buoy Arts - Cowes IOW - June-October 2012
Cuckoo Creative - Ryde IOW - May-June 2011
Solo : Lord Louis Library - Newport IOW - October 2011
Yarmouth Gallery - Yarmouth IOW - March - May 2011
'Open Studios' - The Vicarage - Newport IOW - July 2010
'Homegrown' - The Depozitory - Ryde IOW - July 2009
'Icandi' - Jo Daflo's Cafe Bar - Newport IOW - March - October 2008
Solo : The Studio - Newport IOW - June 2008
'Icandi' - The Venue - Ryde IOW - October 2007
'Icandi' - Jo Daflo's Cafe Bar - Newport IOW - March - July 2007
Solo : Cafe Wall - Quay Arts Centre - Newport IOW - 2005
'Shopping Trolley' - Quay Arts Centre - Newport IOW - April 2006 - October 2005 - October 2004.
Group Show - Portsmouth University - 2002
'Biscuits or Art' - Carisbrook 6th Form - Newport IOW - 2001
I have not exhibited in recent years as I've been focussed on my family, as I have two young children and I also find the freedom of online selling much easier than exhibiting.
I'm excited to finally have a website to sell my work direct to the buyer and have total freedom over what I create.
Hope you like the work!
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Thank you!
Kitty :)
