Karen was born in Melbourne in 1962. She was educated at Maroondah and then Monash University where she completed an Arts Degree. She then gained her Bachelor of Education from the Hawthron Institute of Education and went on to teach in North-Western Victoria for the next 10 years.
A self-taught artist, Karen has drawn and painted all her life, but has also spent time droving and helping with the regular chores associated with life on a wheat and dairy farm. In 1996 Karen moved to Sydney and began to paint full time, excited by the vistas and huge expanses of waters after the red flatness of the Mallee.
Karen’s subject matter changes constantly, including still life and images reflecting her former life on the land. She refers to her style as ‘whimsical’, paintings often having a surreal, dream-like quality.
“My paintings are a meandering through personal experience and recollections. They celebrate the beauty and wonder of everyday events. I use texture and a colour drenched palette to tell stories and convey heartfelt emotions that I hope engage viewers and connect them to universal themes and feelings.”