ABOUT THE ARTIST

Karen's professional history is diverse and bi-national: she is an English lawyer who for many years served as a U.S. university professor and corporate consultant. She is the author/co-author of four books on architectural law and professional development and holds a PhD in political science.

She lives in the United States but grew up in the Cotswolds in Gloucestershire UK. Recently she become an Associate Academic with the School of Creative Arts at the University of Gloucestershire. Karen began painting in earnest while living in Paris in 2017. She uses acrylics with ceramic and glass media on canvas to capture abstract scapes: landscapes, townscapes, and mindscapes. Intense coloration, touchable textures, curves, and circular motifs characterize much of her work.

In her latest work Karen has created several multi-paneled works, each of which explores the concept of connection through fragmentation. This approach is designed to capture physical complexity and reflect emotional intensity by inviting the viewer to focus on individual panels, on discrete combinations of panels, and ultimately on the artwork in its entirety, the composite representing a greater experience than the parts.

Generally, her abstract paintings are untitled to avoid inhibiting a viewer's authentic and personal connection with her work. Infinity, the largest and earliest piece in the show is an exception.

Infinity has grown to a vast 25-panel landscape - the result of Karen's intense curiosity to discover what lies beyond the edges of each panel. Infinity is sometimes exhibited on the floor of a show, drawing remarks from visitors that this atypical perspective gives them a sense of mentally walking through the space as they engage with the mood and atmosphere of the work.

In addition to the Aquae Nguvu show, Karen has exhibited her work in April 2025 at 16 Gallery in Cheltenham, UK. Earlier exhibition venues include Grove Gallery and The Couture, Milwaukee. She is also scheduled to exhibit at the North Wall Gallery in Oxford, UK.

For more information and images of her earlier work and exhibitions, visit Scapegrace.net