For a full biography of Karen please click here.
2014 November - Karen went with art group Art Safari to Japan where they visited Kyoto and the ancient shrines and temples of the former capital of Japan. The group also travelled to Takayama, Matsomoto, Lake Fuji and finally Tokyo. The city was fascinating with amazing skyscrapers and super modern architecture.
2013 April - Radlett Arts Centre had an exhibition of Karen's work for the whole month of April along with Eva Edery glassmaker.
2012 - Karen travelled on safari to Namibia with Art Safari, where her love of animals in the wild grew and she painted several as well as the amazing red sand dunes at Sossusvlei.Her love of photography made this trip very special too as one lodge at Etosha national park had a waterhole where the animals would come to drink at night. Taking good pictures at night was a challenge.
2011 March - Charity Art Exhibition for cancer support group. Several amatuer artists exhibited in London along with professional artists Bettina Caro and Lelia Pissarro. They kindly donated artwork to sell by silent auction which raised more funding for the charity
2009 October - The Caro Academy of Art group successfully exhibited their work for a children's charity in central London.
2009 onward - Karen diversified from her clothing and textile background to painting on canvas with artist Bettina Caro at her studio in North London. The group of artists who attended this studio became known as The Caro Academy of Art. She greatly admired Bettina's work and found that she loved the fluidity a brush stroke can give. Her first painting was of Ballet Dancers at Rehearsal (see artwork). She experimented with different mediums such as conte crayon and charcoal on paper or board, but found acrylic on canvas to be the best .
2000 onward - Volunteered for various charities and their events. Freelance designer for bridal company .
1988-2000 - Combining family ties with freelance work. Over these years Karen took courses in French, Silversmithing, Textile Design and Pottery. She volunteered at her son's primary school, teaching reading to 5-6 year old pupils. As a family, when they travelled and she would take them to art exhibitions which they didn’t always appreciate at the time. Her son is now a gifted linguist and often visits galleries and museums on his travels. For his GCSE art he painted a Thames river sunset scene similar to the Impressionist artist Andre Derain. He gained a grade A for this it hangs proudly at their home.
1986-87 - Robin Guild Interior Design Showroom and Studio, Pimlico Road SW1
1981 - BBC Costume Department- Assistant to the Designer on Light Entertainment comedy programes including The Dick Emery Show and Michael Yarwood Series.
1978 onward - Karen was employed by several evening wear designers in London including Marisa Martin, Bill Gibb and Anoushka Hempel. She also free-lanced for more commercial companies and visited the Paris Pret A Porter Trade Fairs. Her clothing designs have been sold in Selfridges, Harrods, House of Fraser and other UK shops. Her fashion sketches and Illustrations were also used for Press coverage and promotional work.
1978 July - Awarded Diploma in Art and Fashion Design (Dip AD )Harrow Art school. She specialized in evening wear. Karen then joined the Society of Industrial Artists and Designers ( SIAD ).
1975–78 - Harrow School of Art 3 year Fashion Design Course. This included visits to Paris in January of 2nd and 3rd year to see Chanel, Givenchy, Thierry Mugler and Kansai Yamamoto shows. Harrow college participated in several competitions and Karen was a runner up for Laura Ashley, Liberty s, Saga Mink and a winner for Evans.
1973-75 - Harrow School of Art Foundation Course-2 year course. Karen took 2 A levels in Art and Art and Printmaking. History of Art was included in the course and she tried different mediums in printmaking from lino cutting to etching. She got A grades for both A levels, June 1975.
1957 - Born in West London