BIO
Kate gained an illustration degree from Kingston University, graduating in 1992. She was a successful illustrator working on children's books as well as doing editorial work for a multitude of clients. Kate then took a break and worked in London as a label Manager for a Record Label, Pussyfoot, and then on to Carhartt Clothing as UK Marketing manager - both roles allowed her to be creative without the need to be an artist.
In 2011 she moved to Margate, where her creative juices were reignited and encouraged out of her by the amazing people she met and especially by being a part of RESORT studies there. But, the 3D work, well that all started with a wonderful man called Len... Len Dobson. Sadly Len has now passed away but he is the reason why her work changed from 2d to 3D where she is now and for that, Kate will be forever grateful to him for inspiring her through his own incredible miniature model making.
RIP Len - Kate’s Hero...x
1 - Could you explain your practice? Only you know why you do what you do.
My practice moved from a busy start in Children's book illustration, which I did when I first left University in 92, to more advertising and editorial work. Then when I first moved to Margate 10 years ago I began to do a lot more experimental and 2D work and now my practice has moved on to more 3D miniature escapism (for the time being!) where I am very busy with Instagram sales as well as private commissioned work. Using the small figures, I create a mainly humorous, sometimes a little dark environment, a moment in time or a place that we can dream through. I love collecting flora and fauna and using nature's own materials and things that people would normally throw away within my work, be it a pair of wings from a dead fly on the windowsill, a poppy seed head or just a delicate butterfly and some old moss. With these and create tiny mystical people, coupled with tiny speech bubbles cut from old comics and obscenities from ancient Viz issues. My work is neither serious nor intellectual. It is just made to make you smile. a bit of lighthearted fun. But I may occasionally use the platform to say something more meaningful.
2 - Is art relevant today?
As much as it ever has been. The thing is everything is art, most things have come from a design process and a creative concept so yeah it’s relevant it's necessary and it's everywhere and there’s no point even wondering because the answer is 'of course'.
3 – We are always asked what other artists influence us, we what to know what art you don’t like/understand, as well as what you do like?
I've always been a huge fan of Pop art, the bold and colourful simplicity of it and I went through a phase where my work was quite inspired by that movement, lots of type and collage. I love Portuguese artist Paula Rego whose huge artworks depicting awkward family scenes in an almost victorian cartoon way have intrigued me since I first saw a show of hers when I was 20. I like work that is individual, and unique, I love many things.... but nature is the most incredible artist.
I do not like art that is produced on mass purely to feed a fashion... but hey, what do I know,
4 - If you could go back 10-20 years What would you tell your younger self?
Respect your art materials!!!! I have a newfound love for all my paints and tools and respect them and they will stand by you in better form and for longer.
Oh and try everything at least once... go big, go small then go smaller, use materials that you thought you hated, or you've never tried, it's weird what you find out that you are good at or love when you try something new. Keep evolving.
5 – If you could go forward 10-20 years what do you hope to have done or not done?
I guess we all make work in the hopes that people like it and I suppose I would like to make some work that has a bit more importance somewhere in the world and leaves a lasting positive message.
But I would also like to have experienced living somewhere other than the UK, the world is such a big yet small place and we only live once, there is so much to see and digest and it all goes into the pot of inspiration. What I don't want to have done is ever be pigeonholed as the person who only ever made small things, or drew Dinosaurs, or did those mobiles.....
Kate can be found at…
http://www.iamkateharrison.com/about.html
https://www.instagram.com/iamkateharrison/?hl=en