I was born in Hartlepool in 1968 and grew up on the island of Jersey before gaining a B.A. Hons Fine Art Degree in Newcastle Upon Tyne. My travels took me across the world, to places such as China, Malaysia, Australia and Europe before I returned home to pursue a career in Art, eventually becoming a full time painter. In 2004 I opened Barn Acre Gallery and now host biannual exhibitions, showing my new paintings and prints along with selected work by over 50 invited artists.

I am inspired by 'collections' of treasured objects and their remembered or imagined histories, and I seek out decorated, eclectic surfaces wherever they can be discovered. Fragments and motifs are gathered daily in my sketchbooks and these reappear as collaged elements within later paintings. Much of my work has a strong narrative, often linked to the place the object was found or bought.

My pieces are created using gesso, inks and washes of acrylic paint over collaged surfaces. I incorporate vintage envelopes, stamps, dictionary text and maps to make a rich, layered surface which evokes memories relevant to the object. Recent works include The Garden paintings where studies of flowers combine with collected text, cards and eclectic papers within a fresh lively image referencing a memory, time or place.

My prints are produced in limited editions of 250, hand worked, signed and numbered by me, images are printed on Hahnemuhle fine art paper using archival quality U.V stable pigment inks.

In my spare time (!) I keep comedy chickens and continue my pursuit for the perfect found object, moment, beach and pair of shoes...

Kirsten's paintings and prints are currently showing at the following galleries and shops

Kati Koos, San Francisco

The House Gallery, 7 Rose court, Olney, Bucks

Yorkshire Sculpture Park Gallery

Bell Fine Art, 67b Parchment Street, Winchester

Artshut, Gardner Street, Herstmonceaux, Herts

Horizon Gallery, Henley on Thames

Rostra and Rooksmoor Gallery, 5 George Street, Bath

The Bowery, 54 Otley Rd, Headingley, Leeds

Modern Artists Gallery, Whitchurch

Elizabeth Cleall Interiors, Greys Green Farm, Henley

Pea Gallery, Church Street, Woodlesford, Leeds

Fisherton Mill, Salisbury

Art at Goring, Goring on Thames

Artychokes, Somerset

Vinegar Hill, Cheltenham

Furleys Oakham Rutland

TG Gallery Wokingham

Gallery on the Square, St Ives Cornwall

The Edge Gallery, Lancaster

Toe in the Water Gallery, Fowey, Cornwall

Azure Gallery, Old Fore Street, Sidmouth

Peacock Gallery, Reading ‘Collections’ solo show

Blue Duck Gallery, Reading.

The Square Gallery, St. Mawes.

Avalon Gallery, Marazion

Gallery on the Square, St Ives.

Riverside Art, Lewes, Brighton

Old Quay House Hotel, Fowey, Cornwall