"Art is life...life is colours, texture and guts; with the magic of each stroke, I strive to put together a dramatic image which travels through my eyes into your emotions. My goal as an artist is to bring it all together into one viewable moment. In all my paintings, I aim to create a sense of intrigue."

Kate was born in Manchester, England in 1947 and in 1952, she immigrated with her family to New Zealand.

After leaving school, she worked as a textile design assistant. Then in 1968, she and her husband started a fashion label 'Dante’ where they designed and made fashion items for "swinging sixties" boutiques.

By 1973, Kate was a mother of three and her focus changed from pins and needles to pursuing a career in art. Within a few short weeks (after teaching herself to draw from a 99 cent "How to Draw" magazine), she became Auckland's first sidewalk artist in Parnell Village - Auckland’s trendiest shopping and café precinct.

By the following year (although not formally trained), she was offered her first solo commercial gallery exhibition of her pastel portraits - 'Tangata Whenua' (People of the Land).

In 1975, with her husband’s encouragement, she became a full-time professional artist and the family breadwinner. They moved to Australia in 1981, where her career has flourished ever since.

Kate has held many solo exhibitions Australia wide and has received many accolades and art awards during the 50 plus years she has been painting.

As well as her current figurative works, she produced a body of landscape work between 1983-1991 - culminating in the publication of her book 'Alice & Beyond'.

Corporate Collections

Auckland City Library Collection; Adelaide State Library Collection; New Zealand Embassy, Bahrain; Qantas Australia; Auckland Public Library; Moreton Shire Council QLD; Hall & Chadwick, QLD; Lend Lease Australia; BHP Australia; RM Williams; Stockman’s Hall of Fame, Longreach QLD; Robin Gibson Architects, QLD; Power Brewing Power Group, QLD; Media Five Architects, QLD; Arthur Anderson Australia; Allied Coalfields, QLD; Caloundra Shire Council, QLD; Marina Mirage, QLD; Miles Fletcher & Cross, QLD; Golder and Associates, QLD, State Government Insurance, QLD; Wesley Hospital, QLD; Jones Lang Wooton; Marist College Brisbane; John Paul College Brisbane; Burke Hall Melbourne; Grand Mariner Resort, Gold Coast; Calralburn Valley Resort, QLD; Australia Wide Property Trust; Beenleigh City Council, QLD; Sunshine News Papers, QLD; Noosa City Council; Utah Mining USA; Ponsolanic USA; Buxton Property Development, VIC; National Gallery Print Collection.

Regional Gallery Collections

City of Ipswich Regional Gallery
City of Stanthorpe Regional Gallery
Brisbane City Council Art Gallery

Publications

Readers Digest cover work 1989, Readers Digest cover work 1990, Outrider Vol 1 Feature cover work article Kate Smith 1989, Outrider Vol.2. Poetry, Outrider Cover work 1990, Alice and Beyond Book Boolarong publication Kate Smith 1989. Art in Australia Winter Issue 1989, Victorian Homes 'Article Kate Australia 1989', Art and Australia Summer edition 2001, Antique and Art 2001, Antique and Art 2002, Art & Australia 2002, Art Collector 2002, Life Styles 2002, Good Life Magazine 2003, Australian Art Review 2003, Australian Art Collector 2003, Australian Art Collector 2004, Australian Art Review 2004, Australian Art Collector 2005, Noosa Style 2005, Lifestyle 2005, Antique & Art 2005, Art Collector 2006 Summer Edition, Art Collector 2006 Spring Edition, Art Collector Winter 2006, Life Style 2006, Noosa Style Cover and interview 2007, Art Collector June 2007, Antique and Art 2008, Art Collector 2008, Nossa Style 2008, Australian Art Collector 2009 Noosa Style 2010, Lifestyle magazine 2013, Luminous Colour showcasing Australia Pastel Artist 2014 Book published by Linda Hibbs.