“I grew up in Suffolk where the skies are vast and the land is low and flat. My grandad was an architect and he taught me the rudiments of technical drawing when I was nine. He made me a drawing board and a T square, and showed me how to sharpen a pencil with a knife.
“I ventured north to York were I studied fine art at University (YSJ) and specialised in textile design. I had fun with pots of wax, resin, shiny fabrics and butterfly’s wings. From there I spent a year in Huddersfield where I studied industrial applications and CAD; fewer butterflies, more Loom Sheds!
“My first design job sat me in a sterile studio changing colourways of prints to match company logos and I was never allowed to get my hands dirty. I missed my fingers being permanently stained with Prussian blue, and so I started to paint again.
“In 1999 I moved to Sheffield, and after a while I started to sell my work in galleries, and in the art and craft markets there. I made many great friends. I moved to Hebden Bridge in 2005. Hannah at Radiance helped me to develop my lanterns. She stocks them, and my cards. Alison at Heart sells my paintings and my prints.”
Signed, limited edition prints are available from Kate’s website: www.katelycett.co.uk