Kate Bentley S.W.A.
Kate is a professional artist based on the Solway Coast in SW Scotland.She originally trained as a Sculptor and Theatre Designer and made the shift to full time paiter in 1999. She is an elected member of the Society of Women Artists and a retired member of The Lakes Artists Society.
Kate’s paintings fall into 2 categories .Studio paintings which mainly involve working from her imagination often with narrative undertones and working from life, fuels this output.
“Studio paintings are often conceived by a series of random mark making. Subconscious underlying themes and memories of seasons, light conditions, smells etc often emerge. En plein-air expeditions and life drawing/studies act as resource training exercises to aid with this process .Both elements are important in developing my practice”
Exhibition History
Society of Women Artists Annual Exhibition, Mall Galleries, London 2023-22,2020-13,2010-05
Royal Society of Painters in Watercolour Annual Exhibition, Mall Galleries. London 2023-22,2020,2018,2017,2014,2013,2010,2008
Royal Society of British Artists, Annual Exhibition, The Mall Galleries, London 2023,2022
Royal Scottish Society of Painters in Watercolours, Royal Scottish Academy, Edinburgh 2023,2022,2019,2017
New English Art Club 2022
Royal Society of Marine Artists Annual -2023,2021
Royal Birmingham Society of Artists 2020,2018,2016,2014,2012,2005
Royal Watercolour Society, Bankside.2014,2013,2009
Lakes Artists Society 2019-2007
Birmingham Watercolour Society 2013
Edinburgh Art Fair 2022,2019,2018,2015,2014
Manchester Art Fair 2019,2018,2015,2014
Society of Scottish Artists, Scottish Royal Academy 2021,2022
Open Eye Gallery, Edinburgh 2022
New Light Prize Touring exhibitions 2020-21
&2023-24 -Williamson Art Gallery & Museum, Birkenhead.Bankside Gallery, Southbank, London.Rheged Arts Centre, Penrith.The Biscuit Factory, Newcastle.The Mercer Art Gallery, Harrogate.
Solo Exhibitions
2023-Kimono Stories,The Whitehouse Gallery,Kirkcudbright
2022 ‘Ruskin’s Reverie No 2’ at The Blue Gallery, Brantwood,
2020-21 ‘Ruskin’s Reverie’ Artist in Residence Exhibition, Brantwood, Coniston.
2017- ‘Ophelia’, Bellwood &Wright Fine Art Gallery, Lancaster
2015 ‘Drama in the Dales’, The Lime Gallery, Settle.
2013 ‘Skyline’ The Lime Gallery, Settle.
2011 ‘The Darker side of Light’, Severn Studio, Brantwood, Coniston
Prizes, Awards and Memberships
2023-The Sea Pictures Gallery Award -The Royal Society of Marine Painters Annual Exhibition
2023-The Hosking House Trust Prize -The 6th Annual Women’s Emerging Artist Painting Award
2023-Awarded membership to the Royal Society of Painters in Watercolours
2022-The John Wood Award- The Holly Bush Emerging Woman Painter Prize, London
2020-3rd Prize -The Holly Bush Emerging Woman Painter Prize, London
2020-Second Prize -The Upfront Open Exhibition, Upfront Gallery, Penrith
2019- First Prize -The Upfront Open Exhibition, Upfront Gallery, Penrith
2018- The John Entwistle People’s Choice Award-Lakes Artist Summer Exhibition
2018-Awarded ‘The Private View Prize’-The Cumbrian Open Exhibition, Upfront Gallery, Penrith.
2017-The John Entwistle People’s Choice Award-Lakes Artist Summer Exhibition.
2017- Awarded-Lancashire Life's Landscape Artist of the Year
2017-Prize Winner ‘2nd’ The Cumbrian Open Exhibition, Upfront Gallery, Penrith.
2016- ‘HRH Princess Michael of Kent Watercolour Award’-Mall Galleries, London.
2014- Awarded associate membership to the Royal Birmingham Society of Artists
2014- Awarded Full membership to The Society of Women Artists, London.
2013-Prize-winner at the Royal Birmingham Society of Artists ‘Annual Prize Exhibition’
2013- Awarded associate membership to the The Society of Women Artists, London.
2012-Awarded membership to the Lakes Artists Society
2012-Awarded membership to the Birmingham Watercolour Society
2012- ‘The Peter Tyson Award’ -The Lakes Artists Society
2010- ‘The Rheged Prize’ -The Lakes Artists Society
2008- ‘The Winsor and Newton Choice Award’- The Society of Women Artists
2005- Portrait Award- Granada TV. North-East Finalist-for programme “A Brush with Fame”
