Katherine Church (1910-1999)

Kown to her friends as Kitty, was born in Highgate, London. Her father was killed in WWI and her mother was a socialite so Katherine was brought up with Bloomsbury connections and friends. At the age of 18 Kathering went to Brighton School of Art, then the Royal Academy schools and later to The Slade. It was at The Slade that she flourished working with some of the great names including tutors such as Steer and Tonks, However, her biggest influence among her circle was Ivon Hitchens, Hitchens taught her not to be intimidated by huge skies and subjects or to be afraid of colour. His words had a lasting impact on her style and painting. Katherine went on to exhibit regularly at The Royal Academy, The LeFevre Gallery and The Tate Gallery.

Later she married writer Anthony West and in 1966 they moved to Dorset with their daughter. It was here when she met and did some of her most prolific work, she would hold an open house for her artist friends such as Mary Fedden, John Piper and Victor Pasmore.

Katherines flowers were described in 1996 by The Illustrator Magazine as:

‘infused by a feeling for structure…she paints a flower she almost endows it with a skeleton foliage and blooms are broken down into forms with bold decisive marks which search out the true character of the plant without being let astray by its prettiness’

Dimensions Framed: 61cm x 72cm

Signed by artist, oil on canvas