Karen Hammond - Selected as a WildCard in SkyArtsTV Landscape Artist Of The Year competition shown on TV 2024.
Karen Hammond Artist
Karen's art is about exploring the relationships of landscapes and the connections between sky, land, sea and buildings. She says its about getting lost in the emotions those places create through the physical senses - such as the sound and feel of the wind, the smell of salty sea air of the coastal locations or the rich and heavy tones that historic buildings evoke. Her paintings explore her emotional connections and memories of landscapes through both her choice of locations to sketch/paint and whilst she creates reimagining the physical sensations she experienced back in those locations.
Karen loves the feel and fluidity of watercolour aligning it to the sensations of sea and big open skies. The commitment of permanent pen to start gives purposeful structure, sharp emphasis and focus of angular structures in the paintings. Painting and sketching are one of her personal therapy practices after previously suffering from re-occurring complex PTSD. Sketching / painting a natural land/seascape helps to destress / creates a sense of calm, with the positive butterfly happy high when she feel its going really well and creating whilst emotionally back in the places that inspired her.
Some of Karen's painting highlights have included:
Re-invigorating her childhood love of Tigers and getting two paintings selected/Exhibited with Marwell International Wildlife Art May 2025.
Entered Competition through the Beaulieu Estate - Hampshire (UK) and was selected to Exhibit Autumn 2024 at The Art of Buckler’s Hard Exhibition alongside Sky Arts Landscape Artist of The Year (finalist and semi finalists from that year) and meeting the lovely Lady Mary Montagu-Scott (who was also one of the judges) and Lord Montagu.
Aug 2024 had two paintings Exhibited by the Southern Nature Art Exhibition - the South UK's largest Nature inspired Exhibition - Rookesbury Park, Hampshire.
August 2024 - back to University attended summer school at The Chelsea School of Art, part of University of Arts London.
June 2024 Having Landscape Paintings shortlisted by the Society of All Artists SAA Artist of the Year ‘24 competition.
Being selected to take part in setting a painting Guinness World Record challenge Oct 2023. Karen was selected by Sky Arts TV not only to take part in the record attempt, but also got selected with 4 other artists on the day to meet/chat and sketch Sir Lenny Henry (up close and personal which was great as a fellow Brummie J ). She then took part and became a Guinness World Record Holder for painting an A3 sized Acrylic portrait of Sir Lenny in 1 hour live in London with 199 other artists whilst being filmed/live streamed to thousands.
On Sky Arts TV Feb 2024. In 2023 Karen entered and out of thousands was thrilled to have been selected as one of 50 wildcard painters for one of the 6 heats for Sky Arts Landscape Artist of The Year 2024 television show/competition. Her heat was filmed at Hever Castle, Kent, UK.
Exhibited at Harding’s Gallery, Hampshire UK (as runner up in competition), Southampton City Art Gallery - a small painting as part of a Sea Arts feature.
She has also taken part in opening her Studio up to public as part of Hampshire Open Studios, group exhibitions at Titchfield Art & Crafts Show, Fareham Art Group, Yellow Edge Gallery, Local Cafe's /craft working spaces, a hospital and Fareham Co-Working space.
Significant previous commissions have included landscapes of restored Royal Haslar Hospital Building, Titchfield Haven/Harbour and other Hampshire/Fareham land/building/seascapes for individuals. One day art residencies in 2023 at Porchester Castle through English Heritage and on site at Arundel Castle.
Contact
Contact Karen if interested in commissioning a painting, an exhibition or collaboration.
Tel: 07870 185624
