Christmas windows - Knowsley Safari Park

Mural for 'Wild at Art Centre'- Knowsley Safari Park

This is the large mural I painted for Liverpool's Knowsley Safari Park's 'Wild at Art' centre, which is a children's art room. The space is huge, and is home to this rather lovely life-sized rhino. The mural is a backdrop for the rhino so that people can have their photo's taken next to it.
The scene is an African savannah, with Mount Kilimanjaro as the backdrop. I researched the different kinds of savannah found around the mountain, and also the wildlife and other animals that would be found living in the savannah with the rhino. I wanted it to be an accurate depiction of the rhino's natural habitat, as the Safari Park is also an educational experience.
The mural measures around 2 metres tall by 8 metres wide. It was painted onto hardboard with acrylic paints, then finished with a matt varnish.

This is an ongoing project and I will be adding more to it, the drawing above is my design for the children's puppet theatre. I will be completing the project over 2013.

Halloween Lantern Parade

The event itself was an epic and fantastical experience, unlike anything I had taken part in before. The scale of the parade was something I wasn't expecting, and the huge finale on the stage was a feast for the senses. The music and the artwork along with the giant puppets made it an unforgettable finale to the whole parade.
Being a part of it taught me a lot about the amount of time and effort planning and staging such a large event takes. It was a real learning curve, and also extremely enjoyable!

Halloween Lantern Festival - Workshop Assistant

I have had an amazing time assisting some fabulous groups with their lantern making! They made these lovely lanterns from the theme 'things that go bump in the night' We had lots of witches, black cats, a coffin and even an obviously terrifying hamster.

I also assisted with the 'big makes' in the workshop, which was a fantastic experience. It was fascinating seeing these giant puppets come to life and the different materials and techniques that go into making them.
This is the giant moon I helped to make, I had to wrap clingfilm around the bamboo structure and tape it all in place ready for the paper we had to glue over the top. The inside was filled with a spider's web of fairy lights and sellotape. There had to be two sheets of paper covering the structure or the light doesn't diffuse properly through the lantern.

And here is the finished article used on the night of the parade!

All images copyright Katharine Studley 2012

Landbaby in Vogue

http://www.vogue.co.uk/news/favourites-of-vogue/2012/8/shops-outside-of-london/gallery/35

My little fox bag is in the picture for Landbaby at the Bluecoat in Vogue magazines best 100 shops outside of London! It's just on the left!

Scouse Owl & Fly Fox

Scouse Owl

Fly fox

All images copyright Katharine Studley 2012

'Scouse Owl' and 'Fly fox' are two members of my new collection centred around animals  and inspired by Liverpool's people and style.
'Scouse Owl' is a Liverpool bird getting ready for her night on the town, eating discarded kebabs left by drunken revellers on their own nights out. She wants to look her best, as obviously there is a lot of competition with other Liverpool birds...
'Fly fox' is a dapper fellow, always suited and booted and dressed to impress. He takes his fashion cues from Mad Men's Don Draper, and is never seen out without his trademark  specs. He's not averse to scoffing the odd cheeky kebab either when he thinks no one is looking.

Wait & See

Wait & See is based on moths and nature and using natural materials such as wool, cotton, tweed, silk, paper etc.

I have so far printed tote bags, A3 prints and cushions, though I am currently working on expanding the range so... Wait & See.

It is currently stocked in 'Landbaby at the Bluecoat' in Liverpool, which can be found on Facebook.
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Landbaby-at-the-Bluecoat/89408539268