Karen Birchwood began her career as a printed textile designer following  her BA Hons Degree in Printed Textiles at Middlesex Polytechnic. She worked for many years in London for one of the UK's leading textile design studios, eventually becoming head designer at the studio. A move back to Kent in 2004 enabled a long held desire to establish herself as a painter. 

Karen Birchwood portrait
Karen Birchwood image

Karen's gestural and richly coloured paintings are inspired by her surroundings. Her compositions are a harmony of colour and shape, which create emotionally reflective paintings while evoking a sense of place.

Karen's work has been selected by The Society of Women Artists and she is a selected member and committee member of the Rye Society of Artists.

Selected Exhibitions

Wychwood Art Gallery

Bircham Gallery, Norfolk

West End House Gallery

Padstow Gallery, Cornwall

Rye Gallery, East Sussex

Artologie , Cuckfield, West Sussex

West End House Gallery, Smarden, Kent

Affordable Art Fair, Battersea Park, London

Hybrid Gallery, Honiton, Devon

VK Gallery, St Ives, Cambridgeshire