photo by Emma Ledwith
​Born in London in 1978, Karen attended Hampstead Fine Arts College before going on to a career in the City. Since returning to her practice in 2020 she has been awarded the President's Prize by the Institute of East Anglian Artists, the Professional Artist Award by the Visual Artists Association and the Art Fluent Evolution Grant.
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She has been a finalist in the Beautiful Bizarre Art Prize, the Holly Bush Emerging Woman Painter Prize, the Theo Paphitis Art Prize and the Women United Art Prize.
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Karen's first solo show was held in London with Red Eight Gallery in January 2024, and in October 2023 she shared a two person exhibition with Rosie Phillips at Fairhurst Gallery in Norwich. She exhibits across the UK, including with The Other Art Fair and Art Fair East, and her work features on Inez and Vinoodh's platform 'Double Dutch' alongside the likes of Cindy Sherman and Lady Gaga.
In 2024 Karen was a judge for the Visual Art Open, and one of ten finalists in the Dubel Emerging Artist of the Year Prize. That same year, she was invited to feature in the fourth series of BBC One's Extraordinary Portraits, with her episode airing on Friday 14th March 2025.
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Alongside her work as an artist, Karen is the founder of Go Large, helping artists attract buyers, opportunities and recognition – without waiting for permission. If you're an artist who wants to be seen, learn more here.
COMING UP...
Extraordinary Portraits with Bill Bailey - the exhibition
Loading Bay, Bradford City of Culture
13th March - 6th April
​​PROFESSIONAL CONTRIBUTIONS
2024 Judge, The Visual Art Open
2023-4 Judge, The Bank Young Artist Award
2024 Guest Expert, "The Art of Instagram", Rise Art
2023-4 Guest Expert, "Mastering Instagram Reels", The Visual Artists Association
2023-4 Guest Expert, "Instagram Reviews", The Visual Artists Association
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GRANTS AND AWARDS​
2023 Dubel Emerging Artist of the Year Prize, Finalist
2023 Beautiful Bizarre Art Prize, Finalist
2023 Boynes Monthly Art Award, Winner
2023 Arts to Hearts Emerging Woman Artist Award, Shortlisted
2023 The VAA International Exhibition and Scholarship Prize, Shortlisted
2023 Women in Art Prize, Longlisted
2022 VAA Professional Artist Award, Winner
2022 Art Fluent Evolution Grant, Winner
2022 Women United Art Prize, Finalist
2022 Theo Paphitis Art Prize, Finalist
2022 The Holly Bush Emerging Woman Painter Prize, Shortlisted
2022 The New Emergence Art Prize, Shortlisted
2022 International FiKVA Award, Longlisted
2022 Visual Art Open, Longlisted
2022 New Platform Art, Professional Development Programme
2021 The Institute of East Anglian Artists President's Prize, Winner
2021 The Holly Bush Emerging Woman Painter Prize, Finalist
2021 Women United Art Prize, Shortlisted, Special Mention
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SELECTED EXHIBITIONS
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2025 Extraordinary Portraits The Exhibition, The Loading Bay, Bradford City of Culture
2025 The Other Art Fair, London
2024 The Dubel Prize Finalist Solo Exhibition, The Libertine, London
2023 Reactions: Society, Surroundings and Self with Rosie Phillips, Fairhurst Gallery, Norwich
2023 The New Face of Portraiture, Cromer Artspace, Norfolk
2023 Sanctuary, The Leper Chapel, Cambridge
2023 The Other Art Fair, London
2022 Art Fair East, Norwich, Norfolk
2022 Art on a Postcard - mini auction in collaboration with gowithYamo
2022 The Holly Bush Emerging Woman Painter Prize Exhibition
2022 Perfect Imperfection - online exhibtion with Women United Art Movement
2022 The Shape of Us, Masham Gallery, North Yorkshire
2022 The Weight of Expectations, online solo show with Women United Art Movement
2022 The Other Art Fair, London
2022 Raising the Bar, auction with Women in Art
2021 Art Fair East, Norwich, Norfolk
2021 Gaze - online exhibition with Arts to Hearts Project and All She Makes
2021 The Marks We Make - online exhibition with The Curator's Salon
2021 The Institute of East Anglian Artists Open Exhibition, Holt, Norfolk
2021 The Absent Gallery Spring Open, Online
2020 Healthcare Heroes, Portraits for NHS Heroes, online
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MEDIA
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2025 Extraordinary Portraits with Bill Bailey, BBC One
2025 Beautiful Bizarre Magazine, Issue 48
2024 The Curator's Salon Podcast
2024 Beautiful Bizarre Magazine, Issue 44
2023 BBC Radio Norfolk
2023 Beautiful Bizarre Magazine, 10 Year Anniversary Issue
2023 Women United Magazine, Issue 3
2023 Art Plugged, February
2023 Create Magazine, Issue 34
2023 Women United Magazine, Special Edition
2022 Arts to Hearts Magazine, Issue 1
2022 Women United Magazine, Issue 2
2022 Modern Renaissance Magazine, September
2022 Women United Art Podcast, July
2022 The Huts Magazine, Issue 5
2022 The Ministry of Arts Podcast
2022 Absolutely Magazine, March
2022 Places & Faces Magazine, March
2022 London x London, February
2022 Create Magazine, Five Year Anniverary Issue
2022 Norfolk Magazine, January
2022 Folk Features, January
2021 All She Makes Magazine, Fall
2021 Art Seen, Autumn / Winter
2020 Portraits for NHS Heroes, Bloomsbury Publishing
2020 The Artful Podcast
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EDUCATION
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1994 - 96
Hampstead Fine Arts College, London