“Art to me is something that evokes an emotion. I like to think that my prints could trigger a feeling or a memory of a time or place.” - Kate Heiss
Kate Heiss is a textile designer and print-maker who has worked with a wide range of fashion brands including Fenchurch, Miss Selfridge and the Japanese fashion designer Michiko Koshino. Then in 2011 Kate set up her own printmaking studio after receiving a Certificate of Printmaking with distinction from the prestigious Curwen Print Study Centre. Her approach to design and printmaking stems from a love of florals, geometric patterns and bold colours often found in textiles. Much of her inspiration comes from the natural landscapes of East Anglia. Working in a variety of techniques to create her distinctive style, Kate describes her style as “Vibrant, illustrative and quirky.”
When did you first become interested in art and why?
I have always loved being creative, most of my spare time as a child was spent drawing or making things. It was the simplicity of my childhood that enabled me to absorb myself in art. I didn't have any of the distractions that my children have today and I always knew I wanted to follow a creative path. Then I went on to study textile design and work in the fashion industry. I use my knowledge of these fields of design in the way I work today.
How do you set yourself up on a morning before working?
firstly I usually either cycle or run for half an hour after I have dropped off the children at school. Then I then spend the first hour of the day doing my emails/admin and then I venture over to my studio to start work on my prints. I am lucky that my Studio is just a stone's throw from front door. It overlooks my allotment and I often have the company of a robin or blackbird at my window.
What journey do you take to produce your work?
Most of my prints are conceived whilst on a walk. I forage for leaves and flowers and take photos as I go along. Once I am back in the studio I sketch my finds and put them together in a composition. I then cut the image out in the lino followed by each separate colour. The exciting bit about printmaking is that you never really know what it is going to be like until you print the first proof.
