About

Karen Welsh

Karen Welsh is a contemporary painter based in Wiltshire, whose work explores the shifting colour, space, and atmosphere of the landscape. Working primarily in acrylic, she develops abstracted compositions that exist between representation and memory, capturing the essence of a place rather than a literal depiction.

Karen worked with her father as a sign painter and commercial artist producing bespoke signs and pictorial art in the traditional way until 2011 when she moved to Wiltshire to paint full time.

Wiltshire, with its open chalk hills and wide valleys covered with hardy grasslands, provided the unique landscape that inspired her. The occasional tree dotted on the horizon accentuates the clean line between the earth and the sky.

Karen has been on a journey to abstraction. Her paintings have developed from figurative through to semi abstract and total abstraction. Starting with gestural marking then layering the paint, concentrating on balancing tonal value with colour harmony, she develops the works until she has achieved the desired outcome.

Artist statement

"Drawing from the landscapes of Wiltshire, my practice explores the intersection between abstraction and geography. Working in acrylics and charcoal, I use bold colour and contrasting lights and darks. I use layers and form to reimagine the familiar terrain around me."

Share my passion for painting

I love to share my passion with others and be part of their artistic journey.

I run painting workshops in Salisbury for beginners, improvers and established artists. For beginners, I supply all the materials you need to begin painting. For more experienced artists, I work with you to get your art to where you want it to be.

What do the artists get out of my workshops?

There are a maximum of ten in the group, giving me time to spend with you. You will experiment with different subjects to learn how to use acrylic paints, look at composition, work with colour, concentrate on colour balance and use techniques to find your unique style and create great paintings.

In the sessions

We will be creating artworks that rely upon us being aware of our instincts when painting. Learning to trust our own judgments and to make decisions to enhance the work.

Working through the sessions, I will suggest topics to paint. However, in the spirit of what I want to achieve, if you have ideas of your own or work you would like to bring along, that would be perfect. Painting in your own style or preference is part of your decision choices that make your paintings unique.

What do I get out of the workshops?

I absolutely love showing you what I have learned over my life-long time painting. My painting style developed in the last few years thanks to finding my joy in painting. I learned to let go and follow my instinct. Thanks to the sessions I have created many works myself and have been very excited by the paintings made by the participants.

Established artists attend courses

Artists are all different, always moving on and developing, sometimes we want to try out different styles or change our colour palette and use new techniques to add to our repertoire. The best way to do that is to join another artist's workshops. It is great for participants to see how other established artists interpret a subject.