Kate Rattray

Joined Artfinder: Sept. 2014

Artworks for sale: 86

(18)

United Kingdom

About Kate Rattray

 
 
  • Biography


    I have been making glass and ceramic mosaic art works for over 20 years. I have always lived in the countryside and I love how the seasons gradually change, how the sky changes colour throughout the day and night, how the breeze rustles the leaves and the wind howls through telegraph wires. I love the flocks of birds flying overhead and I feel the vibration of their wings against my skin. This is my inspiration. And from this I make a story, one that is sometimes influenced by stories I read of ancient mythology. To tell it I use glossy strong coloured glass and shadowy matt ceramic cut into shapes and worked into mosaic pictures, a translation of the beauty in nature, if somewhat naive. Through my art I attempt to illustrate  a unity with the universe where all things are connected in a bold and dynamic way. 




  • Links
  • Education

    1986 - 1989

    Crewe and Alsager College of HE

    1984 - 1986

    Somerset College of Arts and Technology

  • Awards

    2015

    Craft and Design Selected Maker Award

    Finalist in the Specialist Media category

    Show more awards Hide

    2014

    Craft and Design Selected Maker Award

    Silver Award in the Specialist Media category.
  • Upcoming Events

    There are no upcoming events

    Show previous events Hide previous events

    Previous events

    Event: Devon open studios

    Dates: 10 Sep 2022 - 25 Sep 2022

    Venue: Black barn studios, Liverton

    I’ll be participating in Devon Open studios 2022 this September where I’ll be showing a range of my work from my studio in Liverton near Bovey Tracey, Devon. I’ll have a colourful menagerie of 3d mosaic birds and flying creatures on the walls and a commissioned mosaic mural in progress on the bench.
    I’m venue 111 in the brochure and on the website .

    Event: Re-formation

    Dates: 22 Jul 2019 - 6 Oct 2019

    Venue: Bishops Palace, Wells, Somerset, UK

    A fine art exhibition with artists and friends from Heritage Courtyard Studios taking place at the Bishop’s Palace and Heritage Courtyard Gallery, Wells.
    Taking inspiration from the past and present fabric and politics of the Bishops Palace and grounds.

    Event: Interventions

    Dates: 6 Oct 2018 - 21 Oct 2018

    Venue: Wells Museum, 8 Cathedral Lane, Wells, Somerset, BA5 2EU

    Interventions


    Inspired by the artifacts in the Wells and Mendip Museum, local artists and craftsmen will place new work alongside the Museum displays.

    My new work is inspired by the remains of a Woolly Mammoth tusk whilst questioning the ethics of scientists as they plan to re-introduce the Woolly Mammoth to the Tundra.

    Event: Traces Revealed

    Dates: 30 Sep 2017 - 28 Jan 2018

    Venue: Glastonbury Abbey, Glastonbury, Somerset

    A group show with two other Somerset artists.
    My work is inspired by the lack of relics in the Abbey, the bones of King Arthur and Guinevere, and the stories of monks and Saints. My sculptures include relics that are guarded by magical medieval birds - double headed eagles. There is also the modern rock legend - the Robert Plant bird who guards the iconic song relic ‘Stairway to Heaven’
    The relics are mostly playful analogies, comparing the Catholic tradition of the veneration of relics with modern day trends and culture and the souvenir gift shop in general.

    Event: Summer sculptures

    Dates: 1 Jul 2017 - 1 Oct 2017

    Venue: Glastonbury Abbey, Glastonbury, Somerset

    I'm exhibiting my sculpture seat 'The Last Tree' which is based on the Norse myth, Yggdrasil.
    The exhibition is an open air trail through the abbey grounds of work by South West sculptors. This summer the abbey is hosting sculptures created by artists working in stone, metal, wood and willow. Works will be on display throughout the abbey’s 36 acres of beautiful grounds for visitors to discover and enjoy. The exhibition is by popular demand following an earlier sculpture trail in the abbey’s orchard.

    Event: Mosaic Oddyseys

    Dates: 21 Sep 2016 - 30 Sep 2016

    Venue: Mykonos Cultural Centre, Mykonos, Greece

    With ten other contemporary mosaicists from the UK and from Greece we are working together to create an British-Hellenic festival of mosaics over the Summer of 2016. The festival will include three exhibitions in London, Athens and Mykonos.

    Event: Mosaic Oddyseys

    Dates: 9 Sep 2016 - 19 Sep 2016

    Venue: Michael Cacoyannis Foundation, Athens, Greece

    With ten other contemporary mosaicists from the UK and from Greece we are working together to create an British-Hellenic festival of mosaics over the Summer of 2016. The festival will include three exhibitions in London, Athens and Mykonos.

    Event: Mosaic Oddyseys

    Dates: 18 Jul 2016 - 25 Jul 2016

    Venue: Hellenic Centre, 16-18 Paddington Street, London W1U 5AS

    With nine other contemporary mosaicists from the UK and from Greece we are working together to create an British-Hellenic festival of mosaics over the Summer of 2016. The festival will include three exhibitions in London, Athens and Mykonos making works inspired by our own interpretations of Mosaic Oddysey.

    Event: Ten Years

    Dates: 9 May 2016 - 13 Jun 2016

    Venue: Somerset Guild of Craftsmen Gallery, 23a Broad Street, Wells, Somerset

    Some of my work from the last ten years that explores folklore, weather, and the apocalypse and features birds, moths and butterflies.

    Event: Art Exhibition at the Villa

    Dates: 12 Sep 2015 - 4 Oct 2015

    Venue: Chedworth Roman Villa, Address: Yanworth, near Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, GL54 3LJ

    A display of work from regional artists, mosaicists and sculptors. The chosen artwork reflects some of the themes found in and around Chedworth. All work is for sale and will be displayed both indoors and outdoors.
    Chedworth Roman Villa, 01242 890256, chedworth@nationaltrust.org.uk

    Event: Somerset Crafts members sculpture trail

    Dates: 24 May 2015 - 24 Dec 2015

    Venue: Shapwick Heath Nature Reserve, Avalon Marshes Centre, Shapwick Road, Westhay, Nr. Glastonbury, Somerset

    I made a mosaic sculptures - 21 starlings assisted by my students. Unfortunately 2 were stolen after the first night outside, so they were brought in to the gallery "Somerset Crafts" at the Avalon Marshes Centre, Westhay, Nr. Glastonbury, Somerset, where they are still displayed.

    Event: Odd 'n Cranky

    Dates: 2 Feb 2015 - 13 Mar 2015

    Venue: Somerset Guild of Craftsmen, Somerton, Somerset

    Ruby Lips selected

    Event: Open Arts Exhibition

    Dates: 6 Dec 2014 - 10 Jan 2015

    Venue: Black Swan Arts Centre, Frome, Somerset

    Selected mosaic

    Event: Present Makers 2014

    Dates: 8 Nov 2014 - 20 Jan 2015

    Venue: Thelma Hulbert Gallery, Honiton, Devon

    Selected Works

    Event: LES RENCONTRES INTERNATIONALES DE MOSAIQUE 2014

    Dates: 18 Oct 2014 - 9 Nov 2014

    Venue: Musee de Beaux Arts, Chartres, France

    Works selected to represent British Association for Modern Mosaic. (10 UK mosaic artists selected among 240 international artists)

Links


Education

1986 - 1989

Crewe and Alsager College of HE

1984 - 1986

Somerset College of Arts and Technology


Awards

2015

Craft and Design Selected Maker Award

Finalist in the Specialist Media category

Show more awards Hide

2014

Craft and Design Selected Maker Award

Silver Award in the Specialist Media category.

There are no upcoming events

Show previous events Hide previous events

Previous events

Event: Devon open studios

Dates: 10 Sep 2022 - 25 Sep 2022

Venue: Black barn studios, Liverton

I’ll be participating in Devon Open studios 2022 this September where I’ll be showing a range of my work from my studio in Liverton near Bovey Tracey, Devon. I’ll have a colourful menagerie of 3d mosaic birds and flying creatures on the walls and a commissioned mosaic mural in progress on the bench.
I’m venue 111 in the brochure and on the website .

Event: Re-formation

Dates: 22 Jul 2019 - 6 Oct 2019

Venue: Bishops Palace, Wells, Somerset, UK

A fine art exhibition with artists and friends from Heritage Courtyard Studios taking place at the Bishop’s Palace and Heritage Courtyard Gallery, Wells.
Taking inspiration from the past and present fabric and politics of the Bishops Palace and grounds.

Event: Interventions

Dates: 6 Oct 2018 - 21 Oct 2018

Venue: Wells Museum, 8 Cathedral Lane, Wells, Somerset, BA5 2EU

Interventions


Inspired by the artifacts in the Wells and Mendip Museum, local artists and craftsmen will place new work alongside the Museum displays.

My new work is inspired by the remains of a Woolly Mammoth tusk whilst questioning the ethics of scientists as they plan to re-introduce the Woolly Mammoth to the Tundra.

Event: Traces Revealed

Dates: 30 Sep 2017 - 28 Jan 2018

Venue: Glastonbury Abbey, Glastonbury, Somerset

A group show with two other Somerset artists.
My work is inspired by the lack of relics in the Abbey, the bones of King Arthur and Guinevere, and the stories of monks and Saints. My sculptures include relics that are guarded by magical medieval birds - double headed eagles. There is also the modern rock legend - the Robert Plant bird who guards the iconic song relic ‘Stairway to Heaven’
The relics are mostly playful analogies, comparing the Catholic tradition of the veneration of relics with modern day trends and culture and the souvenir gift shop in general.

Event: Summer sculptures

Dates: 1 Jul 2017 - 1 Oct 2017

Venue: Glastonbury Abbey, Glastonbury, Somerset

I'm exhibiting my sculpture seat 'The Last Tree' which is based on the Norse myth, Yggdrasil.
The exhibition is an open air trail through the abbey grounds of work by South West sculptors. This summer the abbey is hosting sculptures created by artists working in stone, metal, wood and willow. Works will be on display throughout the abbey’s 36 acres of beautiful grounds for visitors to discover and enjoy. The exhibition is by popular demand following an earlier sculpture trail in the abbey’s orchard.

Event: Mosaic Oddyseys

Dates: 21 Sep 2016 - 30 Sep 2016

Venue: Mykonos Cultural Centre, Mykonos, Greece

With ten other contemporary mosaicists from the UK and from Greece we are working together to create an British-Hellenic festival of mosaics over the Summer of 2016. The festival will include three exhibitions in London, Athens and Mykonos.

Event: Mosaic Oddyseys

Dates: 9 Sep 2016 - 19 Sep 2016

Venue: Michael Cacoyannis Foundation, Athens, Greece

With ten other contemporary mosaicists from the UK and from Greece we are working together to create an British-Hellenic festival of mosaics over the Summer of 2016. The festival will include three exhibitions in London, Athens and Mykonos.

Event: Mosaic Oddyseys

Dates: 18 Jul 2016 - 25 Jul 2016

Venue: Hellenic Centre, 16-18 Paddington Street, London W1U 5AS

With nine other contemporary mosaicists from the UK and from Greece we are working together to create an British-Hellenic festival of mosaics over the Summer of 2016. The festival will include three exhibitions in London, Athens and Mykonos making works inspired by our own interpretations of Mosaic Oddysey.

Event: Ten Years

Dates: 9 May 2016 - 13 Jun 2016

Venue: Somerset Guild of Craftsmen Gallery, 23a Broad Street, Wells, Somerset

Some of my work from the last ten years that explores folklore, weather, and the apocalypse and features birds, moths and butterflies.

Event: Art Exhibition at the Villa

Dates: 12 Sep 2015 - 4 Oct 2015

Venue: Chedworth Roman Villa, Address: Yanworth, near Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, GL54 3LJ

A display of work from regional artists, mosaicists and sculptors. The chosen artwork reflects some of the themes found in and around Chedworth. All work is for sale and will be displayed both indoors and outdoors.
Chedworth Roman Villa, 01242 890256, chedworth@nationaltrust.org.uk

Event: Somerset Crafts members sculpture trail

Dates: 24 May 2015 - 24 Dec 2015

Venue: Shapwick Heath Nature Reserve, Avalon Marshes Centre, Shapwick Road, Westhay, Nr. Glastonbury, Somerset

I made a mosaic sculptures - 21 starlings assisted by my students. Unfortunately 2 were stolen after the first night outside, so they were brought in to the gallery "Somerset Crafts" at the Avalon Marshes Centre, Westhay, Nr. Glastonbury, Somerset, where they are still displayed.

Event: Odd 'n Cranky

Dates: 2 Feb 2015 - 13 Mar 2015

Venue: Somerset Guild of Craftsmen, Somerton, Somerset

Ruby Lips selected

Event: Open Arts Exhibition

Dates: 6 Dec 2014 - 10 Jan 2015

Venue: Black Swan Arts Centre, Frome, Somerset

Selected mosaic

Event: Present Makers 2014

Dates: 8 Nov 2014 - 20 Jan 2015

Venue: Thelma Hulbert Gallery, Honiton, Devon

Selected Works

Event: LES RENCONTRES INTERNATIONALES DE MOSAIQUE 2014

Dates: 18 Oct 2014 - 9 Nov 2014

Venue: Musee de Beaux Arts, Chartres, France

Works selected to represent British Association for Modern Mosaic. (10 UK mosaic artists selected among 240 international artists)


 

Biography


I have been making glass and ceramic mosaic art works for over 20 years. I have always lived in the countryside and I love how the seasons gradually change, how the sky changes colour throughout the day and night, how the breeze rustles the leaves and the wind howls through telegraph wires. I love the flocks of birds flying overhead and I feel the vibration of their wings against my skin. This is my inspiration. And from this I make a story, one that is sometimes influenced by stories I read of ancient mythology. To tell it I use glossy strong coloured glass and shadowy matt ceramic cut into shapes and worked into mosaic pictures, a translation of the beauty in nature, if somewhat naive. Through my art I attempt to illustrate  a unity with the universe where all things are connected in a bold and dynamic way.