Please introduce yourself. Describe your journey to becoming an artist. What initially inspired you to draw?

Where to start on my journey though! I think I’ve always been creative, to be honest. My Dad is an avid painter and worked as an art teacher, so I guess my creative path began there with him. We would paint and draw on the weekends throughout my childhood, or visit exhibitions, it was always just a part of my life. I went on to study Interior Design at Glasgow School of Art and currently live and work here in Glasgow.

What fascinates you about architecture and pattern? How do you combine both in your work?

My love of interior design, architecture and pattern was sparked when I was twenty and working for a lighting design company. I would visit all these amazing architectural projects and realised architecture and spatial design was a form of art and expression. This interest made me pursue a degree in Interior Design, where I fell in love with story telling in the format of spaces. Since graduating, that’s what I have been doing - telling stories in the format of drawings and paintings of spaces that intrigue me.

Your work embodies a vibrant colour palette. Why is colour an important part of your work? Which colour is most prominent in your work?

Colour has the ability to describe and change mood, it’s so expressive and is an excellent tool for creating atmosphere. My work is intended to be uplifting and joyful, therefore colour is intrinsic to creating these feelings. I’m quite impulsive with colour and try to work with colours that recreate an authentic feeling of place. I’m drawn to blue in all shades, from vivid ultramarines to soft pale blues and I see blue as the main colour of our exterior world.

Describe your creative process from start to finish of one of your drawings. Is the end result more, or less important than the process?

My work almost serves as a memory to me, I explore and rework observations of visited architecture and interiors to create dreamlike versions of the world. Although the work is highly personal to me and my experience of space, there is a universality found within it; where the viewer is reminded of their joyful memories and can find their own understanding often with memories of a trip or holiday somewhere. My starting point will always be the sensory observation, making notes and sketches or photographing moments of intrigue. From these I work up studies often in ink or acrylic, and then once happy with a composition I draw it up on paper or canvas. I think both are equally important, my favourite pieces have a really strong connection with the process.

Your work is often inspired by your travels. Which place, which you have visited, has ignited your imagination the most?

France is somewhere I keep coming back to in my personal life and work. Nice in particular, and the Riviera has been so inspiring. Somewhere full of light, beautiful colours and patterns, delicious food and wine, stunning landscapes and architecture.

I’m just back from a month of travel through Spain and Portugal, so it will be exciting to see how this influences new pieces I am starting.

What do you believe gives your work its own signature style?

A lot of people comment on colour use and pattern; and I think these are things I am most naturally interested in.

What do you love most about being an artist? What do you find challenging?

Love - has to be people connecting with my work, and bringing them joy, and knowing that the art in their homes means so much to them! Challenging - adapting to professional practice, and building good, organised routines for managing that.

If you could spend a day in a studio with any artist; dead or alive, who would it be, and why?

So difficult to only pick one! Two of my favourite artists are Mary Fedden and Norman Gilbert and I would love to have a studio day with both of them. I love their use of pattern, shape and colour but also both of them have a naivety that I am drawn to; something irrevocably playful so I think they would be cool to hang out with!

How do you see your work evolving in the future?

My work will change as subject matters change - places I see, food I eat etc which is an exciting prospect! I love working big and don’t always have the chance, so this is something I relish and would like to do more of in the near future.

Why do you think art is important in society?

Art defines us, it helps us understand ourselves, each other and the world around us. It connects us in a similar way languages do - but maybe easier as its universal and subjective.

Kate Mary

ARTIST INTERVIEW: KATE MARY