Karen’s gallery pieces specifically centre on animal themed works which she describes as ‘couture creatures’ - all created with incredible dexterity.
Karen Nicol is one of the most talented and popular mixed media artists working today. Graduating with a Masters in embroidery from The Royal College of Art over 40 years ago, she was made Royal Designer for Industry by The RSA in 2015 and is an honorary fellow of the RCA where she was founder and senior lecturer of the Mixed Media course, research fellow and visiting professor for many years.
Most of the materials she uses are sustainably sourced from car boot sales and flea markets, which she magically brings to life using a range of tools, her favourite being her ancient Irish Singer machine. Her studio is a treasure trove of sketches and objets d'art – a melting pot of inspiration, much like the rest of her home which she shares with her husband, collage artist Peter Clark.
Karen set out to study painting or sculpture but couldn’t escape the versatility of textiles as a medium, having grown up with her mother and sister both being embroiderers. Her father was a coal man “but with the mind of an engineer; constantly designing and creating contraptions with an innovative look at everything”. So, it seems fitting that Karen’s pieces are a blend of creativity and imagination.
Clients include:
Schiaparelli, Alexander McQueen, Rooney Mara, Anthropologie, Marc Jacobs, Chloe, Vera Wang Givenchy, Chanel, John Boyd Textiles, Louella, Osman Yousafzada, Antonio Beradi, Browns, Lulu Guinness, Mulberry, Jaeger, Harvey Nicholls, Harrods, Liberty.
