Karen was born in England and emigrated to Australia with her family in 1973. Karen studied art at the Stanley Street School of Art in South Australia after completing high school, but the lure of the dollar was more enticing, and left art college after only 18 months. Karen’s interest in Art was reignited in 2012 whilst undertaking a Community services course at Tafe. Part of the course was to participate in the running of the Blue Fringe Exhibition. Karen also entered her first painting that year, (against her teachers judgement)!, believing the stigma around mental health needed to be heard, and was awarded Artists choice for her acrylic painting of a bushfire scene. The image was created using finger painting, unable to hold paint brushes after a life changing operation to remove a row of bones in her wrist. Karen doesn’t have a favourite medium, but chooses to create in sculpture, painting, sketching, mosaics, textiles and printmaking, taking inspiration from nature, including wildlife and the beautiful Blue Mountains scenery……..and her chickens. At 47, Blue Fringe was Karen’s first attempt at exhibiting her artwork, and after receiving Artist choice, was encouraged to continue along the ‘art path’. Successfully exhibiting in mostly Blue Mountains exhibitions, including Artfest, Blackheath Art Show, BM Art Prize, Springwood Art Show and continuing to participate in Blue Fringe. In 2022, after much deliberation, Karen chose to exhibit a very personal artwork, a sculpture depicting a lifetime of bullying (including school bullying, sexual harassment at work and very personal DV). Her belief that people do not need to ‘know’ and be influenced by the ‘intricacies’ was challenged. Her sculpture was awarded the BMCC Visual Arts Prize.   Karen has a long history of volunteering, including, Blue Fringe for the past 12 years, both as an exhibiting artist and an active member of the committee, a member of the State Emergency Service for over 30 years, RFS for 4 years, President of the Blue Mountains Women’s Shed for 5 years and the Guide Dog Puppy raising program, presently doing temporary care. She also has a therapy dog, for complex PTSD, who provides great relief on the ‘dark days’. With numerous physical complaints, a single mum of a 20 year old daughter and with her mum interstate, life has been challenging, but with her art (when motivated) it can make a dark day a whole lot brighter.