Kate Pettitt North Yorkshire, United Kingdom
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I am an artist and designer living and working in York, UK. My paintings and drawings explore the natural environment and the human form, and are often elemental, instinctive and textural. Inspired by movement, shifting light and changing weather conditions, I aim to capture the character and uniqueness of people and place. I work in acrylic, oils, graphite, charcoal, ink and watercolour.

My landscape painting process typically begins with plein air studies on paper, and sketches. I often spend many days exploring and studying a place in order to observe its unique qualities of light, colour, texture and atmosphere, at all times of day and in different weather conditions. I like to sit quietly in a landscape and let it talk to me, allowing nature and wildlife to relax in my presence and reveal itself. The works I produce this way are direct, instinctive and emotional responses to the environment and have a loose and immediate quality to them. When back at the easel, I use these studies and sketches to trigger memories and to inspire my larger studio paintings, where I may introduce heavy texture and abstract elements – the end result being an impression of a place or time rather than a direct representation.

I also love to paint and draw the human form. My figurative paintings and drawings explore the character of the models (clothed or nude) through expressive line and tone. I attend regular life sessions (online and in person) and sometimes invite models to the studio for longer studies. Longer studies and portraits may take place over a number of sittings. Life drawing is an essential element of my practice that I use to develop observational skills, explore mark-making techniques and hone my ability to record visual information swiftly, editing out unnecessary detail.

As well as my paintings, I have a range of art cards, printed books, gifts and high quality giclée prints for sale.

I am a member of York Artworkers’ Association, SAA, AN, CuratorSpace, VAA and the FSB.

I am represented by Pyramid Gallery and Corner Gallery and sell selected books and cards through Galeri Harlech.

Artwork

Sgwarnog (Hare), Watercolour and charcoal pencil on paper, 2023

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April: Garrowby Hill, Acrylic, charcoal and chalk on paper, 2023

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Iron River, Oil, 2023, £2000

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Dusk, Acrylic, 2023, £720

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Swaled, Acrylic, 2023, £250

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Head to the Hills, Acrylic, 2023, £480

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Stonechat, Acrylic, charcoal and chalk on paper, 2023, 750

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Within, Acrylic and charcoal, 2022

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Hen Ffrind (Old Friend), Mixed media, 2022, 750

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Estuary, Mixed media, 2022, 990

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Garrowby Hill: May, Acrylic, charcoal and chalk on paper, 2022

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Song of the Sea (triptych), Mixed media, 2022, £2000

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Buckden Beck, Acrylic, chacoal and chalk on paper, 2020, 750

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Sally's Rosa Mundi, Acrylic and water soluble pencils on canvas, 2020

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Wally, Pastel on paper, 2020

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I Can See For Miles and Miles, Acrylic on canvas, 2020

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August: Garrowby Hill, Acrylic on deep edge canvas, 2020, 890

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Elegant, Giclee print of an original graphite, charcoal and ink drawing, 2021, 80

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Remembered Landscape: Hope, Acrylic and graphic on canvas, 2020, 750

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Oystercatchers in Rain, Acrylic, graphite, charcoal and chalk on paper, 2020

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Rain Over the Strait, Acrylic, graphite, charcoal and chalk on paper, 2020, 700

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Three White Stones, Acrylic, graphite, charcoal and chalk on paper, 2020

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Hiraeth, Acrylic, graphite, charcoal and chalk on paper, 2020

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Across the Strait, Acrylic, graphite, charcoal and chalk on paper, 2020

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Garrowby Hill: July, Acrylic and graphic on canvas, 2020

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Time and Tide: Early Morning, Acrylic on canvas, 2020

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Time and Tide: Imprints, Mixed media on canvas, 2020

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Gold, Mixed media on canvas, 2020

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Distant Mountain, Acrylic and grsaphite on paper, 2019

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Snowdon, Acrylic, graphite and chalk on acid-free paper, 2019

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Littondale study (work on paper), Watercolour and graphite on paper, 2019

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Light Over Littondale, Oil and mixed media on canvas, 2019

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Rain Over Littondale, Acrylic and mixed media on canvas in a white St Ives frame, 2019

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Curled, Acrylic and charcoal on paper, 2019

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Sam, Acrylic and charcoal on board, 2019

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Sarah, Acrylic and charcoal on board, 2019

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Walking Home, Acrylic on board, 2019

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High Down, Mixed media on board, 2019

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Sennen Reflections, Acrylic on canvas, 2019

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Sennen Wave, Acrylic on canvas, 2019

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Hawnby Hill, Acrylic and mixed media on canvas, 2018

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Lands End, Mixed media on board, 2018

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Foxgloves in the Wall, Acrylic on canvas, 2018

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Guinea Fowl Feathers, Acrylic and graphite on paper, 2018, 250

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White eryngiums, Graphite and watercolour on paper, 2018, Giclée print £80 unframed

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Peas, Graphite and ink on paper, 2017, Giclée print £80 unframed

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Castle Coast, Oil on canvas, 2017

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Pasture, Oil and mixed media on canvas, 2018

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Barton le Willows, Oil and mixed media on canvas, 2017

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Evening Light, Acrylic and stucco on canvas, 2017

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Osprey, Mixed media on canvas, 2023, 550

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Summer Waters, Acrylic, 2023, 550

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Deconstructed Crinoline, Ink and charcoal on paper, 2023

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Projects and exhibitions

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Christmas Makers' Fair

23/11/2023

An evening of art, craft and music, where I sold a selection of books, cards, gifts, prints and original artwork.

Bluebird Bakery, Acomb, York Details

Arnup Studios Autumn Open Weekend

04/11/2023 — 05/11/2023

Resident artists and makers welcomed visitors to our studios in Holtby for a weekend of art and craft.

Arnup Studios, Holtby, York Details

Wales Contemporary/Cymru Gyfoes International Open Competition

21/10/2023 — 20/12/2023

Two original plein air paintings were selected for this prestigious Open Exhibition in Pembrokeshire.

Selection judges: - Mehdi Moazzen, designer, painter and sculptor - Janette Kerr, artist and Honorary Royal Scottish Academician, RWA Academician, and Past President of the Royal West of England Academy of Art - Ashley Hall, Professor...

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The Waterfront Gallery, Milford Haven, Details

Arnup Studios Summer Open Weekend 2023

15/07/2023 — 16/07/2023

Resident artists and guest artists and makers welcomed visitors to our studios in Holtby for a weekend of art and craft (and cake!). I shared my studio with ceramicist, Chris Utley.

Arnup Studios, Holtby, York Details

Jigsaw

02/07/2023 — 30/07/2023

Selected works in the store to accompany their autumn/winter collection.

Jigsaw fashion store, York Details

Artists and the Human Form: The Donderdag Collective

20/05/2023 — 25/06/2023

Group exhibition by artists from the Donderdag life drawing group in York, showcasing life studies and paintings and other work by the artists. I submitted a number of landscapes and figurative works.

Pyramid Gallery, York Details

York Open Studios 2023

15/04/2023 — 23/04/2023

Event taking place over two weekends, 15/16 and 22/23 April 2023. I was delighted to take part in York Open Studios again, and to welcome visitors to my studio. A taster exhibition was also held at York Hospitium 1/2 April.

Gallery Studio, Arnup Studios, Holtby, York Details

Arnup Studios Winter Open Weekends

12/11/2022 — 04/12/2022

Two Christmas shopping Open Weekends, 12/13 November and 3/4 December 2022.

Arnup Studios, Holtby, York Details

Solo exhibition

27/09/2022 — 22/10/2022

Solo exhibition of landscape plein air and studio paintings of, and inspired by, North Wales.

Galeri Harlech, Harlech Details

Twitter Art Exhibition

25/06/2022 — 26/06/2022

Postcard-sized works sold at affordable prices at this charity art exhibition in aid of the Encephalitis Society. The event took place in the Hiscox Building in York. Three artworks were donated.

Hiscox Building, York, and online, York Details

York Open Studios 2022

02/04/2022 — 10/04/2022

Opened studio for two weekends in April for this fantastic city-wide event. Also exhibited at the Taster Exhibition at York Hospitium.

Arnup Studios and York Hospitium, York Details

Ferens Open Exhibition

19/02/2022 — 02/05/2022

Prestigious open exhibition in Ferens Art Gallery, Hull.

Ferens Art Gallery, Hull Details

Arnup Studios Group Exhibition

04/02/2022 — 28/03/2022

Group exhibition of resident artists at Arnup Studios, held at Blossom Street Gallery in York.

Blossom Street Gallery, York Details

Christmas Shopping Weekend

04/12/2021 — 05/12/2021

A weekend of Christmas shopping at Arnup Studios, with all resident artists taking part.

Arnup Studios, Holtby, York Details

Art&

22/10/2021 — 24/10/2021

As Art& (the physical exhibition) was cancelled, I held an associated event in my studio at Arnup Studios instead, three other participating Art& artists. Art& was also an online event.

Arnup Studios and online, Holty, York and online Details

York Open Studios 2021

10/07/2021 — 18/07/2021

10-11 and 16-18 July 2021. Opened Gallery Studio to the public for two weekend for York Open Studios.

Arnup Studios, Holtby, York Details

From the Mountains to the Sea

01/10/2020 — 30/10/2020

Solo exhibition at Pyramid Gallery, Stonegate, York

Pyramid Gallery, York Details

York Open Studios 2020

18/04/2020 — 24/05/2020

Welcoming the public into my workplace in Holtby. This event was cancelled due to Covid-19, but blog posts and online virtual tours etc occured throughout.

Arnup Studios, Holtby, York Details

Solo Charity Exhibition

22/01/2020 — 18/08/2020

Solo exhibition of landscape paintings, for Pyramid Gallery, York. Percentage of sales donated to St Leonard's Hospice. This exhibition was transferred online part-way though, due to Covid-19.

Marriott Hotel York, for Pyramid Gallery, York Details

York Artworkers Association Group Exhibition

18/01/2020 — 23/02/2020

Group multi-disciplinary exhibition by York Artworkers Association.

Pyramid Gallery, York Details

Arnup Studios Launch Weekend

30/11/2019 — 01/12/2019

Special open weekend to celebrate the launch of Arnup studios and my new studio in the Gallery Studio.

Arnup Studios, Holtby, York Details

August Bank Holiday: A Fond Farewell to Castlegate House Open Weekend

23/08/2019 — 26/08/2019

To bid Castlegate House, my studio for over 12 years, a fond farewell and tell visitors about my move to Arnup Studios in Holtby in September 2019, I opened the studio doors to the public over the August Bank Holiday weekend, 2019.

Castlegate House, York Details

York Open Studios 2019

06/04/2019 — 14/04/2019

Took part in York Open Studios 2019, opening my studio to the public for two weekends in April. Sarah Jackson, textile artist, shared my studio and we welcomed over 1300 visitors.

Castlegate House, York Details

Solo exhibition

19/01/2019 — 13/02/2019

Solo exhibition of landscape and figurative paintings and drawings, displayed alongside ceramic works by John and Jude Jelfs.

Pyramid Gallery, York Details

Nature and Nurture: Stillingfleet Lodge Gardens

31/08/2018 — 29/09/2018

Solo exhibition of studies and works on paper. Kate visited the gardens through the year to record the plants and seasonal changes.

Stillingfleet Lodge Gardens, Stillingfleet, York Details

Joint exhibition with Anna Harding

01/08/2018 — 31/08/2018

Joint exhibition with Anna Harding. Paintings and framed works on paper.

The Golden Ball, York Details

York Open Studios 2018

14/04/2018 — 22/04/2018

Own Studio, York Details

York Artworkers Association exhibition

09/01/2018 — 29/01/2018

Pyramid Gallery, York Details

Elementals

09/12/2017 — 08/01/2018

According To McGee, York Details

Solo exhibition

15/10/2016 — 06/01/2017

Fulford Framing, York Details

Art in the back room

02/05/2016 — 14/10/2016

Cafe No 8, York Details
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