Born in 1955 on Stewart Island at New Zealand’s southern extremity, Katrina arrived in Sydney in 1973. Looking for artistic work she discovered screen printing and went on to design and print fabrics for several fashion houses, later moving on to design her own range. The Powerhouse Museum has purchased fabric for their permanent collection.
A tree change in 1991 saw Katrina moved to Napoleon Reef where she lives with her partner John in a mudbrick cottage. Their property has many fruit, vegetable and flower gardens, a field of lavender and a menagerie of animals including dogs, cats, chooks, ducks and cows. The gardens and animals have provided inspiration for still life and landscape paintings. Quince, being one of her favourite subjects, usually end up preserved in a jar.
Working out of her studio, built under a 70 year old Magnolia grandiflora, with natural light, a wood fire and surrounded by objects of beauty, Katrina spends much time working on compositions before she starts working in watercolour or oils. The detail in her paintings comes from hours of meticulous brush strokes. Described as “delicious and glowing” her recent paintings capture the vitality of fruit, vegetables and flowers. Her paintings of food and crockery make you want to eat cake and enjoy.
In the past 20 years Katrina has held exhibitions in Bathurst, Millthorpe, Cooma, Invercargill (New Zealand) and an annual exhibition at the Rydal Daffodil Festival in September.
