Turning People into Paintings

I worked in the fashion industry in Paris for five years before I moved to London to be a full-time artist.  

It changed the way I view fashion, but also how I think about art. 

People can be paintings, too.

Once upon a time, I worked with luxury brands like Chanel and Louis Vuitton, assisting on photo shoots. I loved it! 

And the clothes were incredible. 

However, one thing I started to notice was that, once the clothes made their way off the runway and into shops, they no longer felt special. Even the Chanel or Hermès bags (which are so expensive and almost impossible to get) have become such a status thing. People want to have them so that they can fit in with other people who have them. I walk the streets, and everyone starts to look the same.

And I don't know about you, but I've never met a person and decided that I liked them because they were the same as everybody else. 

Don’t get me wrong, I LOVE a good luxury brand, and I was definitely one of those buyers in Paris. But as I’ve become more aware of the impact of fashion on our environment, I’m a lot more careful with where and how I consume for pleasure. 

Recycle... Upcycle... Artcycle? 

I shop about 98% second-hand, and if I buy designer pieces, I will only ever buy second-hand, runway pieces (sometimes, because no one wants them but me).

Otherwise, I love supporting independent designers who focus on high-quality materials. 

However, one thing I love the most is upcycling my clothes by hand-painting them. Because then it’s seriously unique! No one will ever have the same hand-painted outfit because I genuinely can’t reproduce the same thing twice.

And the most incredible thing? I have been attending more VIP events now than I ever did in Paris... and in my own, hand-painted clothes. Just last week, I was at the House of Lords (!), speaking to the Tanzanian High Commissioner in a skirt I had covered in painted flowers. 

It's also a fantastic conversation starter, so helpful when you're feeling shy and surrounded by important people. 

What would you want me to paint for you to wear, if you could choose? 

With love, 

Katherine