Katy McKidd Stevenson is an artist taking part in North East Fife Open Studios. We saw her work when we popped in to catch up with Pete Cura at his framing gallery. This blog share’s Katy’s story and some of her work …

Katy taught art and design in Perth for many years before leaving in 2019. Today, she has an Airbnb in Freuchie (Holmlea Cottage) and that allows her to focus on her own art.

She explains: “I paint portraits and also make narrative art, working in paints and inks, mixed media and a little print-making.” Her work can be anything from small ink drawings to large oil paintings but they always feature faces and figures.

“I attended Duncan of Jordanstone, Dundee University, and have been painting for many years since I came to the area in 1986.” Now Katy teaches art classes and workshops for adults. “That’s been curtailed this year by lockdown but I have had exhibitions in the Off the Rails Arthouse, Maisie & Mac and the Byre Theatre. I love exhibiting and meeting others.”

She explains that there has always been an artistic inspiration, saying: “My family have always been artists and musicians – I love many portrait artists in particular, Frances Borden, John Byrne, Oskar Kokoschka.” She adds: “Over the years I have developed my own style and visual language, painting portraits with texture and colour, and ‘stories’ of wasps invading women’s bodies, feminity, colourful sunsets, falling figures.”

Katy was delighted to have a portrait included in an Art North magazine article earlier this year. “I also had a lovely article written about my work by the editor, Ian MacKay. I was given a virtual exhibition in his amazing project Projectroom2020 which is a huge virtual gallery. He even made a short film of it set to music – Overture to the Wasp by Ralph Vaughn Williams – lovely to be appreciated!”

She has sold work at the last two Open Studios. “My work isn’t as easily ‘sellable’ as many others in the Open Studios, but I have sold some large pieces which helped me to see there is a market for my work.” She has started getting portrait commissions “which is wonderful” adding, “I love to paint and this all helps me to be able to spend time in the studio.”

Finally – as with all our profile features – we asked Katy what she’d recommend to anyone visiting Cupar for the first time – or for the first time in a long time. “I love a wander around Maisie & Mac. There are always beautiful things to see … and Luvians make the best ice cream ever. If possible take time to see Margaret Stewart’s gorgeous stained glass and Grant Stewart’s beautiful tiny buildings.”

 

Need more?

Katy uses Pete Cura, the framer based on Burnside. You can find Pete’s information on our Blog via this link. His number is 01334 652353.

Read more on all that’s planned for this year’s North East Fife Open Studios.

You can find more on Katy’s work via her website and on her Facebook page. To contact Katy, please use the form on her website.

Katy’s work is also on Instagram. Just click on the image below to see more …

Thanks for reading!