Kate at the Royal Society of Portrait Painters Annual Exhibition in May 2024
Kate is a British traditional portrait artist specializing in oil paintings.
Education and career: currently residing in Kent, Kate started drawing portraits at the age of 7.
In 2000 she began studying to become an architect and she received her Engineer's degree in 2004 and Master's degree in 2006. For a number of years she worked for various International Architectural Companies and with clients such as Avon, Microsoft, Accenture, Royal Bank of Scotland, Sultan of Oman and others. At the same time she pursued the career of an artist, illustrating books and working for individual clients. Her work and articles on painting and drawing have been featured in a number of publications such as Paint&Draw Magazine, ImagineFX or Creative Bloq.
In 2014 she decided to become a full time artist and has been working for private clients and book publishers around the globe. So far she has illustrated over 50 books and her works have been exhibited in a number of art exhibitions.
Most recently her artwork "Serenity" has been accepted and shown at the Royal Society of Portrait Painters Annual Exhibition in London . Her painting"Portrait of an Artist" was shown at the Royal Institute of Oil Painters 125th Annual Exhibition in London in 2017. The painting was also selected as a finalist in the prestigious International ARC Salon Competition in 2019 . The International ARC Salon Competition is the most far reaching and influential competition for Contemporary Realism in the world.
If you'd like to commission Kate please use the contact form here or you can email her at kateoleska@gmail.com
Kate at the Royal Institute of Oil Painters 125th Annual Exhibition
Artist Statement
I was seven years old when I developed an interest in portraiture. From a very young age human facial expressions and body language have fascinated me. I started drawing portraits in pencils and for many years this traditional medium was the only one I used. When I started studying to become an architect I was fortunate enough to meet many wonderful art teachers who introduced me to other mediums and ways of painting. These days I paint in oils and prefer gessoed board as the support for my paintings.
To me portraiture is just as much about capturing the anatomy of my subject as it is about capturing their character and soul. I aim to deliver a portrait that both me and my sitter will be happy with. One that will proudly be displayed in my client's home for years to come. I am happy to work from photos (depending on quality) but can also travel to meet with my client at their home and take my own photos and draw preparatory sketches which will help me understand my subject better.
Exhibitions:
Royal Society of Portrait Painters in London - Group Exhibition 2024
Royal Institute of Oil Painters 125th Annual Exhibition in London - Group Exhibition 2017
Late Summer Group Exhibition at McGillan and Woodell Gallery in Ramsgate 2017
“Tadeus” - exhibiting alongside Allan Starski scenography design exhibition, one of four exhibitions celebrating “Tadeus” movie by Andrzej Wajda; Museum of Cinematography, Łódź ,1999.
“With Fire and Sword Exhibition” Poznański’s Palace, Museum of Łódź 1999
Illustrated Books :
P.J. Brackston German book edition of “Gretel and the Case of the Missing Frog Prints”
P.J. Brackston German book edition of “Once Upon a Crime”
Julia Lange's German book edition of “Irrlicht Feuer”
Robert Jackson Bennett's German book edition of “City of Stairs” for Bastei Lübbe.
Robert Jackson Bennett's German book edition of “City of Blades"for Bastei Lübbe.
Robert Jackson Bennett's German book edition of “City of Miracles"for Bastei Lübbe.
Terry Pratchett's Terry Pratchett's German book edition of “The Sorcery and Piramids”
Julia Lange "Irrlicht Feuer" book edition for Knaur
Terry Pratchett - "The Dodger"- Piper Verlag
Terry Pratchett - "Color of Magic"- Piper Verlag
Terry Pratchett - "Light Fantastic"- Piper Verlag
Terry Pratchett - "Equal Rites"- Piper Verlag
Terry Pratchett - "Mort"- Piper Verlag
Terry Pratchett - "Sorcery"- Piper Verlag
Terry Pratchett - "Wyrd Sisters" - Piper Verlag
Terry Pratchett - "Pyramids"- Piper Verlag
Terry Pratchett - "Guards, Guards"- Piper Verlag
Terry Pratchett - "Eric"- Piper Verlag
Terry Pratchett - “der Zauberhut/ Piramiden” - Piper Verlag
Terry Pratchett - spine illustration - Piper Verlag
Terry Pratchett - "Dodger's guide to London" - Piper Verlag
Terry Pratchett - "the Dodger" - e-book - Hörbuch Hamburg HHV GmbH
Terry Pratchett - "Die Gelehrten der Scheibenwelt - Die Wissenschaft der Scheibenwelt 1" - Piper Verlag
Terry Pratchett - "Die Gelehrten der Scheibenwelt - Die Wissenschaft der Scheibenwelt 2" - Piper Verlag
Terry Pratchett - "Die Gelehrten der Scheibenwelt - Die Wissenschaft der Scheibenwelt 3" - Piper Verlag
Terry Pratchett - "Die Gelehrten der Scheibenwelt - Die Wissenschaft der Scheibenwelt 4" - Piper Verlag
Terry Pratchett - "Die Gelehrten der Scheibenwelt - Die Wissenschaft der Scheibenwelt 1-4" - Piper Verlag
Terry Pratchett "Der Zauberhut und Piraminden: - Piper Verlag
Thomas Kruger - "Die Fänger des Himmels” - Baumhaus
Paul Erickson - "Der Herr Der Ringel" - Piper Verlag
Simon Haynes - "Hal Spacejock" - Piper Verlag
Simon Haynes - "Hal Spacejock, Second Course" - Piper Verlag
"Kuzynki" - Andrzej Pilipiuk - 1st edition - Fabryka Słów
"Księżniczka - Andrzej Pilipiuk - 1st edition- Fabryka Słów
"Dziedziczki" Andrzej Pilipiuk - 1st edition- Fabryka Słów
"Miasto w Zieleni i Błękicie" - Anna Kańtoch - 1st edition- Fabryka Słów
"Wrota"- Milena Wójtowicz - 1st edition- Fabryka Słów
"Kuzynki" - Andrzej Pilipiuk - collectors edition- Fabryka Słów
"Księżniczka - Andrzej Pilipiuk - collectors edition- Fabryka Słów
"Dziedziczki" Andrzej Pilipiuk - collectors edition- Fabryka Słów
"Zaginiona" Andrzej Pilipiuk - collectors edition- Fabryka Słów
"Wiedźmia Naczelna" Olga Gromyko - 1st edition- Fabryka Słów
"Brylantowy Miecz, Drewniany Miecz -Nik Pierumov - 1st edition- Fabryka Słów
"Złodziej Dusz - Aneta Jadowska - 1st edition- Fabryka Słów
Illustrated games:
Illustration for a "Kingdom" game for Fox Games
Illustrations for an RPG game, based on a book by Marek Krajewski "Erynie". Responsible for the design of: the box, the board, characters, cards and coins - Znak
Articles:
Maine Coon portrait for the cover and oil painting tutorial for "Paint&Draw" magazine.
"How to paint an eye in oils" bite for "Paint&Draw" magazine.
"How to draw hands" bite for "Paint&Draw" magazine.
"How to paint a nose in oils" bite for "Paint&Draw" magazine.
"How to sketch" bite for "Paint&Draw" magazine.
"Krita Basics Part 1" for 3DStudio
"Krita Basics Part 2" for 3DStudio
"Krita Basics Part 3" for 3DStudio
"Core Skills: Krita - Part 1: Start Painting with Krita" for ImagineFX
"Core Skills: Krita - Part 2: Get familiar with Basic Tools" for ImagineFX
"Core Skills: Krita - Part 3: Customizing Brushes in Krita" for ImagineFX
"Core Skills: Krita - Part 4: Controlling Colors in Krita" for ImagineFX
"Core Skills: Krita - Part 5: Getting Familiar with Layers" for ImagineFX
"Core Skills: Krita - Part 6: Advanced Layer Functions" for ImagineFX
"Core Skills: Krita - Part 7: Using Assistant Tools" for ImagineFX
"Core Skills: Krita - Part 8: Useful Transformation Tools" for ImagineFX
Krita Interview for Linux Magazine.