ABOUT KAREN GRIMSTEAD
My abstract art practice extends between Australia and the UK. Born in the UK, I have lived and worked in Australia for many decades. My work is grounded in an ongoing Australian studio practice and informed by sustained professional engagement with the UK, where I also have a studio.
I’ve been an exhibiting artist since 1990, and the recipient of numerous international art awards. My art has been featured in various publications including Condé Nast (UK) House & Garden; London Life, Chelsea & Belgravia issues UK; Art New York magazine USA; ArtEdit Sydney Australia; Circuit Magazine, Western Australia; The Fremantle Herald Newspaper, Western Australia.
My work is held in private collections in Abu Dhabi, Australia, Cape Town, England, France, and the USA.
With a former business in Interior Design, which developed into a career as an abstract artist, my values are influenced by this contrasting combination of structured, measured, design discipline; versus the unfettered freedom of creative, expressionist exploration, translated onto canvas.
My work evolves from a sense of place; a subconscious map navigating the emotional connection of my thoughts, feelings, moods and memories of observing the landscape from above. I frequently fly in our light aircraft, and it is this aerial perspective, where vast openness and intricate detail co-exist that influences many of my art compositions.
I work in mixed media for the freedom of choice and spontaneity it gives me, and I occasionally include components of flight charts. My process is intuitive, combining blended, layered, colour-fields, and expressive, dynamic, mark-making. They become my personal dialogue, a rhythmic connection which is integral to my work, revealing my strengths and vulnerabilities in an honest and meaningful way.
Instinctively I respond to external factors of climate, ambient light and seasonal influences in nature around me. Inwardly, my mindset, mood and memories guide me, as my paintings organically evolve into distant, indistinct landscapes.
My work is intentionally open, allowing each viewer to find their own meaning within the complexities of life and landscape, while experiencing a moment of stillness, perspective and quiet clarity.
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2026 - Camelback Gallery, Gold Award, March,USA
2025 - ART NEW YORK Magazine, Issue 279238, USA
2025 - Camelback Gallery, Silver Award, February, USA
2025 - Camelback Gallery, Bronze Award, January, USA
2024 - Assoc of Sussex Artists, 2D Award Winner, August, UK
2024 - Camelback Gallery ,Gold Award, August, USA
2024 - Camelback Gallery, Finalist Award, July, USA
2024 - TopArtAwards, Top Abstract Award, July, USA
2023 - TopArtAwards, Award of Excellence, February, USA
2023 - London Life Magazine, Mayfair, UK page 181, July
2023 - Freedom Art Awards, WA 2nd Prize
2023 - IPL RADIO, WA ‘The Yarn’ programme. 45minute interview on my art/life. Live Broadcast worldwide.
2023 - ART EDIT & INTERIOR DESIGN Sydney, NSW. Published in a Full page in the First Quarter Edition.
2022 - Top Art Awards, Art Masters, Highly Commended Award, USA
2022 - Top Art Awards, Best of the Best, 2nd Place, USA
2022 - Condé Nast’s HOUSE & GARDEN Magazine, UK
2022 -ART EDIT, Sydney FEBRUARY, MARCH & APRIL 2022
2022 - TopArtAwards, 3RD PLACE Award Top Acrylic, USA
2022 - Contemporary Art Gallery, Abstract, All Color Theme Award, USA.
2021 - American Art Awards USA - 1ST PLACE, Abstract Expressionist Category. Juried by 52 Galleries and Museums in USA.
2021 - TopArtAwards, - 2ND PLACE, USA
2021 - A2L Juried Awards USA - FINALIST- from 4,500 worldwide entries. -
2026 - ‘ALCHEMY OF THE SOUL’ The David Giles Gallery, Fremantle
2025 - ‘ALCHEMY OF THE SOUL’ The David Giles Gallery Fremantle 30/11/25-10/01/26
2025 - ‘KAI-FELLA FOUNDATION FUNDRAISER’, Golden Ballroom, Crown Towers Hotel, Perth WA February.
2024 - ‘KAI-FELLA FOUNDATION FUNDRAISER’, Optus Stadium River Room, WA
2023 - ‘REFLECTIONS REVEALED’ Moores Building Contemporary Art Gallery, WA
2021 - ‘CONNECTION’ Moores Building Contemporary Art Gallery, WA.
2012 - Denada Gallery, WA. -
2026 - WASA Annual Awards, May, WA
2026 - Affordable Art Fair, March, London, UK
2026 - Mayfair Gallery 54, April, London, UK
2025 - Juniper Galleries, ‘Enraptured’ Exhibition, April, WA
2025 - Sussex Art Fair, May, Goodwood, UK
2025 - San Diego Art Fair, June, USA
2025 - Treve Art Show, July/August, UK,
2025 - The Untitled Artists Fair, September, London UK
2025 - Global Fashion & Art Week, September, London, UK
2025 - Parallax Art Fair, October, London, UK
2025 - Treve Art Show, November, UK
2024 - Treve Art Show, July/August, UK
2024 - Assoc of Sussex Artists, August, UK
2024 - Treve Art Show, July/August, UK
2024 - Treve Art Show, November, UK
2023 - Treve Art Show, July/August, UK
2023 - Association of Sussex Artists, August,UK
2023 - David Giles Freedom Art Gallery WA
2022 - Juniper Galleries, WA ‘Swoon’, February, WA
2022 - WASA Annual Awards, March, WA
2022 - Treve Art Show, July/August, UK
2022 - Association of Sussex Artists, August, UK
2022 - Juniper Galleries, ‘Lifeline’, November, WA
2021 - Juniper Galleries WA ‘Lifeline’ Fundraiser, WA
2021 - Juniper Galleries,WA ‘Lit from Within’, WA
2021 - Treve Art Show (online) UK
2021 - Association of Sussex Artists, UK
2021 - Canning Art Awards, WA
2021 - Mandurah 9x5, WA
2020 - Melville City Art Awards, WA
2020 - Treve Art Show, UK (On-line due to COVID-19)
2019 - Art Upmarket, University of WA
2019 - Association of Sussex Artists, UK
2019 - Treve Art Show, Summer, UK
2018 - Treve Art Show, Summer, UK
2018 - Association of Sussex Artists, UK
2017 - Association of Sussex Artists, UK
2017 - ‘Journey of the Heart’ Abstract Angels. Moores Building Contemporary Art Gallery, WA. Sponsored by the Heart Foundation of WA.
2017 - Treve Art Show, Summer, UK
2016 - Treve Art Show, Summer, UK
2015 - Treve Art Show, Summer, UK
2015 - ‘Tempt 8’ Abstract Angels, WA
2015 - ‘Colour & Movement, Atwell Gallery, WA
2014 - ‘Beyond’, West Dean, UK
2014 - ‘Blink of an Eye’ Abstract Angels, WA
2014 - City of Melville Awards of Excellence, WA
2014 - Jane McKay’s Art Group, Tresillian, WA
2014 - Canning Art Award, WA
2013 - City of Belmont Art Award, WA
2013 - Rotary Art, WA
2013 - City of Canning Art Award, WA
2013 - ‘Illumination’ Abstract Angels, WA
2012 - Jane McKay’s Abstract Art Group, WA
2012 - Metamorphosis Gallery, WA
2012 - Alfred Cove Art Society, Atwell Gallery ,WA
2012 - ‘4 Weeks, 4 Walls’ Atwell Gallery, WA
2012 - ‘Compositional Abstraction’ West Dean, UK
2011 - Atwell Art Gallery “Four Walls”, WA
2011 - City of Belmont Awards, WA
2011 - Cossack Art Award, WA
2011 - Telethon Inaugural Art Auction, WA
2011 - ‘Coloured Abstraction’ West Dean, UK
2010 - Canning Art Group, WA
2010 - Jane McKay’s Abstract Art Group, WA
2010 - ‘Linear Abstraction’ West Dean, UK
2010 - Canning Art Group, WA
2009 - Leaconfield Hall, Petworth, July, UK
2009 - Canning Art Group, WA
2009 - ‘Intrinsic’ Atwell Gallery, WA
2009 - Alfred Cove Art Society, WA
2009 - ‘Form’ West Dean, UK
2008 - ‘Summer’ Petworth Arts, UK
2008 - ‘Landscapes’ West Dean, UK
2007 - ‘Portraiture’ West Dean,UK
2006 - Canning Arts Centre, WA
2005 - Canning Arts Centre, WA
2004 - Canning Arts Centre, WA
2003 - Canning Art Centre, WA
2002 - Rotary Art, WA
2001 - Monet Gallery, WA
2000 - Canning Art Awards, WAPrior to 2000, too many events to mention!
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2025 - Three large artworks Leased to Corporate offices, Perth CBD, WA
2024 - Three large artworks Leased to Corporate offices, Perth CBD, WA.
2023 - Four large artworks Leased to Corporate offices in Perth CBD, WA -
INTERIOR DESIGN - 1994 - 1998
1998 - Dip Interior Design (Distinction) London University, UK
1998 - Dip Interior Design (Distinction) City of Guilds, London UK
1995 - Architectural Drafting, L Spiccia Architectural Designers, WA
1994 - Architectural Drafting, Chichester College, UK -
ArtSource MAX membership, WA
A-N Artist Membership, UK
West Australian Society of Arts WA
Connected Artists London, UK
Association of Sussex Artists UK
Alfred Cove Art Society WA
Art2Life Alumni, USA;
Art Tribe, UK;
Glass Artists of WA
Ausglass VIC.
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2025 - ART NEW YORK Magazine, Beka Museum, New York, USA Issue 279238
2024 - London Life magazine, UK Chelsea, September
2023 - Artist Chronicle, WA, March.
2023 - ART EDIT+Interior Design magazine, NSW, January.
2023 - London Life magazine, Mayfair, UK, July
2022 - HOUSE & GARDEN UK magazine ‘Art Edit’ January + February + March + September
2021 - Fremantle Gazette Newspaper WA March
2017 - CIRCUIT magazine, WA , April2017 - West Australian Newspaper, February
My aviation related articles published in the following magazines:-
PRIVATE PILOT USA, July 1998
AUSTRALIAN AVIATION, July 1998
AUSTRALIAN AVIATION, April 1997
FLYER UK, April 1996
My aerial photographs and air-to-air photographs have been regularly published in Pilot magazine (UK) from 1987, up to the current time.
“I believe there is something captivating about a painting which touches the soul. I feel there is both a humble rawness and a resolved complexity which connects with our own humanity. My contemporary abstract paintings are not planned in advance, they are a visual response to my feelings about the landscape surrounding me. With each new canvas, I embark on a fresh journey into the unknown, as I explore my moods, memories and feelings.”
- Karen Grimstead -
