In clear focus: Catherine Davis
Welcome to another installment of my new blog series "In clear focus". Through this series you will get to know an artist as they discuss one of their favorite pieces of art.
This week I'm interviewing freelance designer Catherine Davis. Catherine creates bright and bold textiles and art pieces that can't help but make you smile. Enjoy! And pop-in next week when I'll be sharing Catherine's advice for self-publishing an art book.
Meet Catherine!
I received a textile design degree from the University of Huddersfield, and worked in the design industry for a number of years. My first job was at a weaving shed. I was so pleased to have landed that job. Sadly, after three months the business went bust so I was out of work. Undeterred, I sent off a lot of applications and landed a junior design role at a children's clothing store. After a couple of years I moved on to another company, designing luggage. From there I worked for various UK retailer suppliers (like ASDA, John Lewis, and NEXT). I designing bathmats, rugs, cushions, doormats, etc.
After the birth of my second child I had a strong desire to spend more time at home with my boys. I asked my employer if I could work part-time, but they declined. It was at that moment that I decided to go freelance. I set-up my freelance design business first, started building a client base and then began brokering licensing deals for my designs.
Around that same time I started entering a lot of competitions which inspired me to get back into making fine art again. I received such positive feedback to the work I entered in these competitions, that I decided to launch an art site in 2017. It features my designs for six animals.
Art Nouveau Horse
Art piece: Art Nouveau Horse
Why is this artwork your favorite?
It is one of the first pieces I made, so a lot of heart and soul went into it. I created three pieces for the series, but the horse is my favourite becauseIjustlove the colours. All things Art Nouveau!
What techniques did you use to create it?
I work on the computer a lot, digitally manipulating my hand-drawn sketches and designs. It makes sense to me to combine the two. My artwork and design work are not mutually exclusive, so it felt natural to incorporate some of my repeating surface designs into this piece of art. I guess it's kind of my signature now. So while the horse started out as sketch, I scanned it in and coloured it on the computer.
What was your inspiration for the piece?
Well it started out as a piece for the Wraptious competition. The company that runs the competition sells a lot of animal art, so I picked my subject matter from that. I then decided that instead of doing a fine art piece, I'd rather create a bold, bright fun piece that (hopefully) makes you smile when you see it.
How does the work represent your style and approach to your work?
I think of my style as being vibrant, bold and energetic. I want my work to make you smile when you see it. I’m not a fine artist. I’m a modern, digital artist who loves colour and likes to combine and digitally manipulate my sketches on the computer.
How does this piece of art compare to your other work?
I would say that in almost all of my artwork you can find elements of my repeating designs. That is, except for the few illustrations I've done. My illustrations of Hebden Bridge and Halifax are a bit different and came about as the answer to a need. I work with a lovely local boutique called Tall Poppies, and the owner told me that she was getting a lot shoppers asking for locally themed products. So I create my 'Highlights of’ range of illustrations in response to that.
Examples of Catherine’s other work:
Catherine Davis Art
Catherine Davis illustrations