Karen came to a painting career later in life, having been a horticulturist, landscape designer and writer of fiction. Karen is primarily a painter on board and canvas, as well as a block and monotype printer. Her subjects are usually nature based, encompassing landscapes, still life and botanical studies though the still life form is a favourite, created from compositions of plants she has grown herself along with personal objects collected throughout her life. Karen’s art practice provides the imaginative material and scope for varied, self-led explorations in the fields of philosophy, psychology and the study of human nature and connectivity, all of which fascinates the artist.
Established in 2021, the National Emerging Art Prize was created to provide an annual, highly visible national platform to identify, promote and support the most promising emerging visual and ceramic artists in Australia.