Turner’s Skies – ‘Never If You Can Help It, Miss Seeing the Sunset and the Dawn’ J Ruskin

Oil on panel
80cm x 118cm

Kate originally trained as a Sculptor and Theatre Designer. In 1999 she became a professional painter. Originally from the Lake District she is now based on the Solway coast in South west Scotland. Kate’s location and landscape hugely influences her subject matter and historically is a ‘painter of life’,using her en-plein air sessions and life drawing to feed her narrative paintings .

Her narrative works are developed from her love of the human form,pattern ,chiaroscuro and of course theatricality! They are initiated in the studio from mark making,working over studies and old work and a huge amount of experimentation. Themes emerge and the narrative becomes apparent , often stemmed from life experiences,past and present .

She is an elected member of the Royal Institute of Painters in Watercolour ,Society of Women Artists and a retired member of The Lakes Artists Society.

This painting came out of a 19 month long residency at Brantwood John Ruskin’s former home in the Lake District. The residency focused on Ruskin’s complex life and thoughts, his paintings , literature ,love of nature and architecture , philanthropic outlook and his relationship with Turner. This complex piece focused on the relationship between Ruskin and Turner. It makes direct reference to Ruskin’s love of Venice and Coniston and also to Turner’s connection to Venice.

Reflections and layering were key in this work, and most of the others in the collection.In this case reflections in the glass of Turner’s paintings actually in Ruskin’s home,and elements of Turner’s paintings were used as a key linking device .

The title is a quote from Ruskin,the full quote being inscribed into the painting (bottom left).