Name: Kathryn Backhouse
Preferred Mediums: Inks, willing to try other mediums
Preferred Subjects: Anything and Everything!
Short Bio
I submit pictures to Ravenfield Art Group exhibitions each year, and have also exhibited work at Winthrop, and various local craft fares.
I am passionate in my belief in the power and beauty of the creative and visual arts and believe that the arts can be used to shape lives.
I am now almost retired and have spent my life in music education. I first started doing art about 4 years ago, starting with some simple pencil drawings and going on to explore many different kinds of medium. I haven’t really settled on my favourite medium yet, but I have most success with inks. I enjoy the fluidity of the medium.
I began my teaching career as a peripatetic teacher in North Tyneside, and then worked in Nottingham, teaching flute clarinet and saxophone. I then went on to be Head of Music in three schools – Rossington, (in Doncaster), and then on to Wickersley and St. Bernard’s Catholic High School (both in Rotherham). I was Head of Rotherham Music Service, and played a leading role in establishing the Rotherham Music Hub. For many years I taught at the Junior Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester, as an Academic Tutor for Theory, Advanced Theory, Composition, Musicianship and sight singing, and I was an Associate Lecturer and Subject Leader for Music at Sheffield Hallam University, and also worked as an ABRSM Examiner (Theory). Alongside these roles I have taught music privately and it was during one of these private music lessons, when teaching piano and saxophone to Julie Warne, that my interest in art was sparked. Julie had a few music lessons with me but it soon became apparent that she had a lot to offer to me in return by way of art lessons and she turned out to be an inspirational teacher. Having failed my O Level art at school, she had a challenge on her hands, but she inspired and encouraged me and it wasn’t long before I was on the waiting list for a place in Ravenfield Art Group. After a short wait I was offered a place in the group. From that point onwards it has been my real pleasure to take part in the workshops that have been on offer, and to have received encouragement from other members of the group.
Inks
Acryic
Watercolour
Pastels
Oils
Mixed Media / Others
Charcoal and Pastels
Inktense
Mixed Media