While studying foundation art in Chester a lecture by one of the tutors inspired Karen to apply to the university of Ulster where she completed a degree in Textiles/Embroidery. A postgraduate Art Teacher’s diploma followed and led to Karen working as an Art lecturer in Dungannon & Cookstown F.E. Colleges for 13 years before leaving to set up her home design studio when the paperwork became more important than the students.

After joining County Down Crafts their exhibition entitled Pre-Millenium tension and the poem ‘The Dream Ship’ kickstarted Karen’s current mixed media work which developed into a contemporary collection of 3-dimensional wall pieces inspired by children’s poetry and fairytales and the imagined antics of the local birdlife and her pet cats who all have wonderful adventures when she is not looking. She creates her work by casting her characters in a very fine plaster which she hand paints with pigments enhanced with metallic powders. These are then set within embossed and antiqued metal surrounds and framed using a natural light wood.

She has participated in both exhibitions, retail fairs and trade shows which led to her work being shown in many of the major craft galleries within Northern Ireland, Ireland and the UK with one of her pieces being presented to President Clinton on his visit to Belfast.

Karen’s work can currently  be purchased from a select number of galleries and most recently through her newly developed online shop within her website.