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About the Artist - Katherine Tyrrell

Katherine Tyrrell is a British contemporary artist who is also a writer and teacher.

Katherine Tyrrell - Contemporary Artist

The  foundations of how I make my art are threefold. 

  1. I'm committed to the value of drawing and sketching and working from life and 'en plein air' where possible
  2. the power, complexities and subtleties of colour and pattern fascinate me
  3. dry media, specifically soft pastels and coloured pencils, work best for me in terms of the type of mark-making using broken colour that I enjoy the most

Contact the artist:

My practice


[My practice is now limited by increasing problems with osteoarthritis and tenosynovitis which affects my grip of drawing implements]

I draw using dry media and enjoy hatching, scumbling and erasure as techniques to develop areas of broken colour which mix optically to provide new colours.  Although much of my work in the past has been rooted in loose realism, I'm increasingly interested in abstracting the patterns and shapes I come across in the natural world at either end of the scale

My drawings and sketches have attracted much praise for my draftsmanship and use of colour. One example is Charley Parker's review on his blog Lines and Colors - see External link opens in new tab or windowKatherine Tyrrell.  (For other reviews - see below)


"Not quite white"

Patterns in landscapes, light and colour

I like colours, patterns and puzzles.  Things which stimulate my eye include:

  • the way light changes both colour and form
  • patterns in shapes - both large and small
  • patterns in landscapes
  • scale - how the large can look small and the small can look large
  • places which make me happy - in the country, art galleries and restaurants

One word which ties a lot of my themes together is "landscapes" - these can be
  • the interior landscapes of plants and flowers - and how the very small can seem very big
  • views and vistas - particularly those involving distance and the patterns in large scale views
  • the figurative interior landscapes of galleries and restaurants  - in the room and on the plate

Katherine Tyrrell in Greenwich Park. 
River Thames with the City of London and East London in background

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Working from Life


I very much enjoy working from life and in public places - as you can see from my sketchbook pages. 
Much of my figurative work is either initially developed or completed in front of the subject.   All my drawings of people are from life and I very much enjoy observing and recording the way people relate with one another in different places.

Art Societies and Art Groups


  • Sketching:  I joined External link opens in new tab or windowUrban Sketchers in 2008 and helped found External link opens in new tab or windowUrban Sketchers London in 2012.  
  • Drawing: I'm a past member of the External link opens in new tab or windowSGFA Council and the External link opens in new tab or windowDrawing London Group
  • Coloured pencils:  In 2009 I became a signature member of External link opens in new tab or windowUKCPS
  • Botanical art: I'm a supporter and member of External link opens in new tab or windowASBA and a Friend of the External link opens in new tab or windowChelsea Physic Garden Florilegium Society

Exhibitions / Judging

I have had work accepted into juried annual exhibitions of national art societies and group exhibitions in the UK, the USA and Canada.  
I'm no longer exhibiting due to problems with osteoarthritis and tenosynovitis.

I was one of the Judges of the Jackson's Painting Prize 2020 - see External link opens in new tab or windowinterview with me
Exhibition details

Sales

 

My work is in private collections in the UK, Australia and the USA.  

The following are also available for purchase by arrangement:

  • Original paintings and drawings
  • Images in transparency, printed or electronic form
  • Licensing rights for publication of either drawings or articles
Please contact Katherine for further information and a price list




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"Ashness Bridge" for Derwent PencilsCommissions  

Example: The External link opens in new tab or windowCumberland Pencil Company (Derwent Pencils) commissioned Katherine to produce a drawing of Ashness Bridge - an image which has long associations with their Artist's Pencils.  This was featured in their catalogue and on their website.


Ashness Bridge 
for Derwent Pencils Catalogue 2008
I'm happy to discuss commissioned work.
Please contact me for further information.  All initial discussions are via e-mail.



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Katherine Tyrrell - Teacher


I'm a qualified teacher but I also continue to be a student who loves learning about art and sharing that learning
I'm a qualified teacher with a degree in Education from Cambridge University and an MBA from the London Business School.  I believe that all those with a talent and/or interest in art will benefit from some guidance and although I don't have a degree in fine art I have studied widely and enjoy passing on what I've learned.

Sharing and Guiding

:
I've extensive professional experience of leading workshops and guiding people through a learning process.  12 March 2015
  • Drawing and Sketching: Member of the External link opens in new tab or windowDiscussion Panel on "Drawing Together" at the Ulster Festival of Art & Design (March 2015)
  • Becoming an author: Presentation External link opens in new tab or window"From Artist to Author" at the Ulster Festival of Art and Design 11 March 2015
  • Social Media: I've written magazine articles about and given workshops and talks on Social Media for Artists and how to get your art online for the Mall Galleries, Heatherley Art School and Art Societies
  • Sketching: I've written articles about sketching, led an online class in sketching and led/supported groups of sketchers (Founder Member of London Urban Sketchers)
  • A lot of guidance I now provide is through my publications (see below for my blogs, free guides and information sites).

Learning

:
My two degrees (in Education and Business) and two professional qualifications (Teaching and Accountancy) have nothing whatsoever to do with art per se

However once I'd achieved them and got my career underway I worked hard in my spare time to fit in

  • drawing classes at the External link opens in new tab or windowRoyal Drawing School and External link opens in new tab or windowCentral St Martins College of Art in London.  
  • workshops with a number professional artists in the UK and USA
  • independent study via books and lectures. Plus I've used the Internet extensively to access art, learn about artists and different approaches to art - and share that learning

Katherine Tyrrell - Writer

I very much enjoy writing about art and sharing information about art in a number of different ways.

I was commissioned to write a book about drawing and sketching by Quarto Books/Retrovision, which was published in three different English language editions in different parts of the world in January 2015. Rights to publication in other countries were also sold.

The titles and publishers of the books are:
  • UK: External link opens in new tab or windowSketching 365: Build your confidence and skills with a tip a day
    - published by External link opens in new tab or windowQuarto (Apple Press) (8 January 2015)
  • USA: External link opens in new tab or windowDrawing 365: Tips and Techniques to Build Your Confidence and Skills
    - published by External link opens in new tab or windowNorth Light Books (1 January 2015)
  • Asia (English) : External link opens in new tab or window365 Hints and Tips for Drawing and Sketching -published by External link opens in new tab or windowPage One Group
  • See also my Facebook Page External link opens in new tab or windowKatherine Tyrrell: 365 Tips for Drawing and Sketching for updates

                 

Book reviews:  See reviews on Amazon +
Artistsnetwork: External link opens in new tab or windowDrawing Basics: Do This To Advance Your Art By: Cherie Haas, Online Editor | November 18, 2014

Other Books and Magazines


  • A series of 10 articles on "Cost Effective Tips for Artists" was published by 'The Artist' Magazine in 2016
  • I was commissioned by Quarto/Rotovision to write a book about drawing and sketching published in the USA and UK in January 2015 (see above)
  • My sketches appear in
    • "Playing with Sketches" (December 2013) and
    • "Sketch my World" (January 2014)
  • I've written articles for
    • Discover Art (How social media can help the artist) and
    • Love Pencils (External link opens in new tab or window10 reasons to Sketch with Coloured Pencils)
External link opens in new tab or windowMy books and magazine articles


my contribution to "Playing with Sketches"
- a double page spread about sketching in museums and art galleries in
 

External link opens in new tab or windowMaking A Mark


(2017 - more than 4 million unique visitors to date + 15+ million page views)
My main art blog is frequently referenced by other art bloggers and leading galleries.  It focuses on information for artists and art lovers - including
    • reviews of art exhibitions and art competitions
    • art education - sharing knowledge and learning through art projects about art basics (eg Composition and Colour) and notable artists
    • interviews with contemporary artists;
    • tips about art business, art careers and blogging about art
The value of External link opens in new tab or windowMaking A Mark (see below) is externally validated.
It ranked as  #3 art blog in UK between 2010 and 2016 (I 'retired' and started to post less in October 2016)
- see External link opens in new tab or windowMaking A Mark remains #3 in top 25 art blogs in UK.
It's also in the top 10 of a list of the External link opens in new tab or windowWorld's Top 75 Art Blogs by blog rank.
Making a Mark Subscribe via e-mail to Making A Mark

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Travels with a sketchbook


(c.300,000+ unique visitors and 400,000 pageviews since July 2006) 
External link opens in new tab or windowFeatured in and recommended by The Times newspaper
My sketchbook blog showcases sketchbook work and explanations as to process. 
I'm also a correspondent for External link opens in new tab or windowUrban Sketchers , External link opens in new tab or windowUrban Sketchers London and a co-author of External link opens in new tab or windowFour Go Painting in Provence
Travels with a Sketchbook in.......
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External link opens in new tab or windowMaking A Mark Reviews

(200+ subscribers - since April 2009)
a consumer's guide to quality and value in art books, art supplies and services to artists.
Making a Mark reviews...... Subscribe via email to Making A Mark Reviews

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External link opens in new tab or windowThe Art of the Landscape


(c.350+ subscribers - since January 2010)
Promotes learning about the development of landscape drawing and painting - by exploring, sharing and doing.  I'm also a correspondent for External link opens in new tab or windowWatermarks - a small community of artists who make art from water.
The Art of the Landscape
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External link opens in new tab or windowMaking A Mark on Art


My suite of information sites - Resources for Artists - include sites relating to various art media, various art genre and subject matter, books for artists and the art business
  • plus this website provides information about the art materials that I use Art materials and resources 
  • and External link opens in new tab or windowHow to Sketch  - advice about how to sketch
External link opens in new tab or windowRelated websites
  • External link opens in new tab or windowHow to Make a Mark with Art
  • Making A Mark's Art Book Lists
  • External link opens in new tab or windowMakingamark's Botanical Art Compendium
  • E-commerce for Artists

About Artists


Do you want to find out about famous artists past and present? This is my compendium of sites about famous artists in history and living today.
Related websites:
  • External link opens in new tab or windowGreat British Artists
  • External link opens in new tab or windowGreat European Artists
  • External link opens in new tab or windowGreat American Artists
  • External link opens in new tab or windowAll About Women Artists
  • External link opens in new tab or windowGreat Sculptors and Land Artists

Making A Mark Publications


The Making A Mark Guides relate to various art activities - concerning both practice and business - and are being developed on a regular basis.available via External link opens in new tab or windowMaking A Mark Publications

Other publications / Reviews - Media coverage has included


  • March 2012:    introduction feature on External link opens in new tab or windowUrban Sketchers London - External link opens in new tab or windowMeet the correspondents: Katherine Tyrrell 
  • February 2012: my work featured in External link opens in new tab or windowArtists in Pastel
  • June 2011: External link opens in new tab or windowFour Go Painting in Provence - an article on

    External link opens in new tab or windowLines and Colors

     
  • March 2011: External link opens in new tab or window10 reasons to Sketch with Coloured Pencils was published by External link opens in new tab or windowThe Derwent Pencil Company on their External link opens in new tab or windowlovepencils blog.
  • February 2011: Travels with a Sketchbook - featured in the The Daily Register section of The Times Newspaper - seeExternal link opens in new tab or window "Travels with a Sketchbook" recommended by "The Times" 
  • June 2009:  External link opens in new tab or window“Travels with a Sketchbook” visits Formans Restaurant  highlighted by External link opens in new tab or windowForman and Field Blog  
  • October 2008: introduction feature on External link opens in new tab or windowUrban Sketchers - External link opens in new tab or windowMeet the correspondents: LONDON > Katherine Tyrrell 
  • August 2008: External link opens in new tab or windowKatherine Tyrrell - a feature article in External link opens in new tab or windowLines and Colors 
  • October 2006: quoted in an article in External link opens in new tab or windowArt Calendar Magazine 
  • July 2006: ‘External link opens in new tab or windowSketching with coloured pencils’ published in ‘From My Perspective’ 
  • April 2006: one of my parrot tulip drawings featured as the artwork on the External link opens in new tab or windowfront cover of External link opens in new tab or window"From My Perspective" magazine
  • Aporil 2006: External link opens in new tab or windowFeatured Artist: Katherine Tyrrell on External link opens in new tab or windowMoleskinerie
Mixed Parrot Tulips (coloured pencils)
Mixed Parrot Tulips
Coloured Pencil 11.5" x 15.75"


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