The Artists

Kate MacKenzie - Vice Chair

I was born in Birmingham and lived in the Midlands until 1991 when I took up a teaching position in a Glasgow Primary School. I married and moved to West Lothian, giving up teaching to look after my children. A twist of fate in 2004 led to a move to the lovely fishing village of Johnshaven in rural Aberdeenshire when my husband and I took over the village shop and Post Office.

I have always enjoyed creative pursuits, and whilst teaching I set up a small business designing cross stitch kits which were sold in needlework shops throughout Scotland. I sold the business when my children were small as I just wasn't able to devote enough time to make a success of it.

The move to Johnshaven was the catalyst needed to re-ignite my creative spark! A combination of living in such beautiful surroundings, the encouragement of a local art group and an increase in 'me' time once my daughters were both at school led me to explore art in a way that I had never previously been able.

Having experimented with various media I have discovered both a preference and an aptitude for acrylics. I love their bright, vibrant colours and the effects they enable me to achieve. I am also very interested in textile art and am currently exploring various techniques using an array of fabrics, silks and felt.

The very positive response I have had to my art, through local exhibitions and via my website, gave me the confidence to take it to the next level. In May 2009 I opened Starfish Studio in Johnshaven. It provides me with a small but permanent studio space in the lovely surroundings of the shop of my dreams! I sell beautiful, affordable British made art and crafts and have a great, inspiring view of the village harbour from behind the counter.

My paintings are hanging on various walls around the UK and overseas. I have secured a number of individual commissions and have some very loyal customers. I am particularly proud of a series of four paintings which I was commissioned to produce for the boardroom of the TEC Group in Aberfeldy. My scenes of local landmarks also feature on their stationery and Christmas cards.