Delighted to announce that my Tower Bridge prints are now stocked in the Tower Bridge gift shop in London.
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Katherine Jones' intricate line drawings reflect her architectural training but also her deep love for Wales
From picturesque Portmeirion to the rugged beauty of Blaenau Ffestiniog, Katherine Jones' artwork reflects her love of Wales and its buildings. A Cardiff-based artist and architect, Jones has become known for making three-dimensional bespoke 'memory boxes' - framed boxes intricately filled with items by which to remember a loved one or a precious time. However, this is not her only chosen medium. Her latest exhibition, in Oriel Plas Glyn y Weddw, focuses on pen, ink and watercolour drawings that reflect her architectural training. Lovingly drawn in intricate detail, these works focus on Welsh places, in particular north Wales. "I use my work to help others connect with the people, places and moments they love," she says. "I enjoy creating the artworks with so much detail and giving these recognisable places a new lease of life. "I love hearing people's stories about why they like a particular drawing or what resonates with them about a particular place. I hope people will find new layers of meaning in these drawings and a reminder of happy times and special places." Katherine's show is running alongside Oriel Plas Glyn Y Weddw's summer exhibition, featuring work by over 80 artists from all over Wales and beyond, and Anghysbell by Manon Awst, a multidisciplinary artist, working in performance, sculpture, poetry, site-specific intervention and works on paper. The show runs until the end of September. My exhibition 'Grounded' will be at Plas Glyn y Weddw from July 21 until the end of September 2021. Read about the exhibition below: Grounded We all have our favourite places. The ones that ground us, make us feel at home, or take us down memory lane. Katherine's intricate drawings bring these cherished landscapes, towns or buildings to life in a stylish, unique way. In the last two years, she has been featured on Radio 4 and has been commissioned by the likes of the National Trust, Microsoft and the National Museum of Wales. Katherine's exhibition at Oriel Plas Glyn y Weddw brings together her collection of drawings across Wales, with a focus on North Wales. From the whimsical town of Portmeirion to the rugged beauty of Blaenau Ffestiniog, Katherine's artworks have a commonality to them. Through intricate linework, unique hatches and tiny details, her drawings capture the essence of a place. Each artwork is anchored by the ground or sea beneath them and connected by the sky. Yet, they are all recognisably different, grounded within their specific locations, and their individual identities are perfectly captured. Katherine's unique style creates a recognisable, yet unusual take on some of Wales' most treasured places. I was commissioned by UWC Atlantic College to create a drawing of St Donat’s Castle, the 12th century castle in which the college is based. Set in 122 acres of woodland and farmland, and with its own valley and seafront, the castle became home to an American newspaper magnate in 1925, and was later bought and then donated to Atlantic College’s governing body, in 1960. I created a coloured and a black and white version of the drawing and the college gives prints of them to current students and alumni. The castle is also a popular wedding venue, and my drawing has also been turned into wedding invitations, cards and a larger version was even used for wedding guests to sign around instead of a guest book. See more of my drawings of iconic Welsh buildings here.
“We saw in Katherine’s drawings a warmth, texture and intricacy that we felt would translate well to the context of this commission. Katherine fully grasped the brief and the complexities of working at the scale required for large clinical and public areas. She ensured that her work was site specific by referencing local landscapes and the subtle pops of colour that draw the eye but don’t overwhelm the artwork’s serenity. The artworks have been very warmly received and we would be more than happy to work with Katherine again.” Studio Response I was absolutely delighted to be asked to create two bespoke drawings to go on the walls of the maternity ward at the Grange Hospital in Cwmbran, working with Studio Response to turn my drawings into six metre long prints. It was such a wonderful project to be asked to do, and so fantastic to see it brought into being in the ward corridors. It was a lovely way for me to link my bird drawings to the surrounding landscape and place them among local architecture. As inspiration, I drew on nearby bodies of water and fairy-tales of storks delivering babies. Storks are also significantly important in the UK, as after 600 years, they have recently been reintroduced in a successful breeding programme at the Knepp Estate in West Sussex. The backdrops of the drawings reference Cwmbran boating lake, and locations along the Afon Lwyd, the river running through Cwmbran. 450-year-old Llan yr Afon Manor also features, as does the Afon Lwyd Weir and bridge at Pontymoile.
You can read more about my commercial projects here and see this project in more detail here. Earlier in the year, I had the honour of working with year 1 from Thornhill Primary School in Cardiff. Their teacher contacted me to ask if her 5 and 6 year olds could produce some drawings based on my humpback whale tail print. As I couldn’t visit in person because of Covid restrictions, I sent them a video showing them how I created my image and they used it to make their own wonderful drawings. Afterwards, I put the class in touch with www.uk.whales.org who offer free talks about whales and dolphins to schools, in the hope the children will continue their exploration into whale conservation and further their knowledge of the majestic beings they were drawing.
The feedback I received from their teacher was wonderful: "I just wanted to say how much the children loved working in collaboration with you. Your video session was informative and pitched just right for them. They were amazed that a "real life Welsh artist" took the time to speak to them and explain the process and meaning behind such beautiful work. I was absolutely thrilled with the quality of artwork the children produced as a result of our collaboration. I am certain they worked so hard because they had a real context for learning and a line of communication. They had something to strive for and a real understanding behind what they were doing and why. I really hope that we can work together again. The children benefitted so much from your kindness and talent. Your approach captivated and inspired them. I had them leave for home time saying they want to be an artist like you. If that isn’t inspirational, I don’t know what is! " Read more about my work with schools here. I have long been passionate about nature and wildlife, and one of my strongest beliefs is that every living thing and its habitat should be respected. Everything in nature, from the biggest whale to the tiniest insect should be able to live undisturbed by human activity. Their natural way of being should be protected. My love of whales and dolphins started at an early age – when I was ten, I drew every species of whale and dolphin for a school project! I was also ten when I adopted my first dolphin, and it’s safe to say that I’m still obsessed with them, as I’ve adopted one every year since! I created my current series of whales and dolphin drawings to raise awareness and funds for a charity that means a lot to me. I am extremely proud to say that my official partnership with The Whale and Dolphin Conservation means that I am able to donate 40% of profits from my Whales and Dolphins range, to help fund their important work in vital global conservation and research, keeping these magical creatures safe.
Browse my Whales and Dolphins collection here. By now, you’re all familiar with my architectural and landscape drawings, as well as my wildlife prints and memory boxes. However, did you know that I’ve added a map to my collection? In time for St David’s Day on 1st March, I created a detailed pen and ink drawing of the map of Wales. The topographical contour map shows mountains forged in the last ice age, and the valleys that form the rich tapestry of Welsh heritage. Available in two sizes, prints can be bought directly from my website. The original framed piece is currently on display and for sale in my solo exhibition “Grounded” at Oriel Plas Glyn y Weddw.
Find out more about the exhibition, here. Article Written for Dog's Today, February 2021 “Collect memories, not stuff” the saying goes. But our memories are often intrinsically linked with the stuff we accumulate. What would you put in your own mini museum – and what’s the betting it includes something doggie? The collection of objects we have around us are unique to every individual. The items we’re drawn to, or are gifted, are an expression of our identity. I could identify friends by a selection of contents from their homes or even from inside their handbags. Our choice of lipstick or perfume; meaningful photos; a favourite mug; a well-worn keyring; travel knick-knacks or much-loved heirlooms – they all tell a story of who we are. So I was very excited to chat to an artist who has specialised in curation creations. Katherine Jones from Cardiff is an animal-loving architect turned artist. Her distinctive pen, ink and watercolour drawings feature cityscapes and buildings, as well as animals and Welsh landscapes. But memory boxes have also become a large part of Katherine’s work. The display boxes contain items unique to a person, place or event. Whether it’s a Mamgu (grandmother in Welsh) box, commemorating a much-loved family matriarch, or to celebrate an anniversary or a special trip, each collection is unique. While most can be wall mounted, one of Katherine’s commissions was made to be a central piece of furniture. The one-metre-diameter coffee table for a holiday cottage was formed from an old window frame and filled with objects that had been collected from the site of the cottage – including a 17th century button and an old rare coin. Of course, pets feature heavily in the collections, being an integral part of people’s families, and the medium is perfect for dealing with grief and processing memories when a pet passes. A collar and ID tag, a favourite toy, bowl, fragment of blanket, map location of a favourite walk, a lock of fur… I’ve already started listing items I’d put in my own doggie box!
The love of a good dog is something that Katherine is no stranger to, though she’s only a relatively recent convert. “I grew up with cats,” explains Katherine. “My partner wanted a dog – I wasn’t sure – but then he mentioned adopting a rescue Greyhound. Basically, a Greyhound is a cat you can walk!” Drawn to the Greyhound’s feline grace and character – “they are so lazy!” – they started looking and contacted Greyhound Rescue Wales, who matched them to Lili, an ex-racer from Ireland. It was a perfect pairing. “She’s just so quiet and calm and loves her walks,” explains Katherine. “Whether it’s ten-mile walks in the Lake District or Brecon Beacons, or, if we’re really busy, two 30-minute walks in one of Cardiff’s lovely parks, she’s happy. She loves lounging around on the sofa.” Lili’s past remains something of a mystery. All that is known is that she was an ex-racing dog from Ireland; no one knows why she’s missing a tail. Perhaps it was caught in a trap. Whatever her past, Lili is now happy and settled, and she’s very much the light of Katherine’s life. So much so, in fact, that Katherine are keen to support the charity that rescued Lili, and to encourage others to consider rehoming a rescue Greyhound. Katherine’s print of Lili – complete with tail! – is sold to raise money for Greyhound Rescue Wales, with 100 per cent of all profits going to the charity. Katherine has also produced Christmas cards for the charity and Katherine has even donned her architect hat to design the charity’s new centre in Carmarthenshire, which is awaiting planning permission. It’s a very dogcentric life for someone who, three years ago, would have described herself as more of a cat person. But if there’s one thing we know about dogs: they are very good at getting on to your sofa, into your heart and transforming your world! The mounted print of Lili measures eight by six inches and costs £15, with all profits going to Greyhound Rescue Wales. Covid: How Christmas markets adapted to regulations or moved online The coronavirus pandemic has seen the cancellation of many of Wales' annual Christmas markets, forcing traders to adapt to new ways of selling.
Before Wales brought forward its level four national lockdown - meaning only retailed selling essential items can remain open, some markets went ahead with smaller, ticketed events. Others moved to newly established online marketplaces. Some traders said the restrictions hit them hard but others said through adversity they found an 'amazing community' of shoppers and sellers. To read the full article, please click here. |
Katherine JonesI’m an artist who creates beautiful memory boxes and intricate ink drawings to help you connect with the people and places you love. Archives
May 2024
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