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Colour, Coastlines & Creative Chaos

Hi! Let me introduce myself - My name is Kate Shephard and I'm an artist based in Poole, Dorset, and I paint because it lets my soul exhale.

Colour, for me, isn't just about what looks pretty—it's about what feels alive. It's about transforming grey into something beautiful, finding light in the everyday, and creating little windows into wonder.

Kate Shephard Christian Dorset Artist

Where It All Began

I was born in Warsaw, Poland, and grew up between the grey concrete of the city and the golden warmth of my grandad's house in the countryside. Those summer days—roaming free through meadows, riding bikes along dirt tracks, watching the light play across the landscape—taught me early on that beauty isn't a luxury. It's essential. It's what helps us breathe.

When my family moved to England, I carried those memories with me. Life wasn't always easy, and we moved around a lot, but I held onto the things that made me feel alive: light, colour, open horizons, and my Christian faith. My faith became my anchor, a source of comfort and strength through difficult seasons, and it's woven quietly into everything I create.

A video showcasing the artistic journey of a Christian artist, featuring behind-the-scenes clips of painting in acrylics, oils, and watercolors. The footage includes close-ups of art materials, works in progress, final paintings, and exhibition displays. The artist is seen creating expressive abstracts, serene seascapes, and uplifting Bible verse prints, highlighting faith and creativity in each piece.

Why I Paint

For years, I worked in the corporate world as a computer programmer. It was practical, stable, but something was missing. I longed for a way to express what I felt inside, to reconnect with that sense of wonder I'd known as a child.

When I finally picked up a paintbrush, everything shifted. Painting became my sanctuary—the place where I could breathe, explore, and let my soul speak. It's where I transform the weight of everyday life into something beautiful. It's where colour becomes my language for everything I feel but can't quite put into words.

I paint to create beauty in a grey world. I paint to remember that even in the heavy seasons, there's always colour waiting to break through. And I paint to share that feeling with others—a moment of calm, a spark of joy, a reminder that beauty is still here.

What I Create

I work mainly in oils now, though I started with acrylics and still love watercolours for looser, atmospheric pieces. Oils have stolen my heart with their richness and the way they let me layer, blend, and build emotion into every brushstroke.

My work is inspired by the Dorset coast, nature, and the changing light that dances across the landscape. I love painting coastal scenes, florals, and wildlife, but lately I've been drawn more and more into abstract work.

When I paint abstractly, I'm not trying to replicate what's in front of me—I'm painting feeling. The way colour sparks joy. The sense of possibility you feel looking out at the horizon. The calm that settles over you when you just breathe.

Peaceful English countryside wall art featuring scripture from Isaiah 55:9 and a winding walking path.

My Faith & Bible Verse Prints

My Christian faith is deeply important to me, and it's one of the reasons I create Bible verse prints. Faith carried me through some of my darkest seasons, and it continues to bring hope, comfort, and light into my life. Designing these prints is my way of sharing that—of offering encouragement, beauty, and God's words to anyone who needs them. Whether it's a verse that brings peace, strength, or joy, I hope these prints remind you that you're not alone and that beauty and hope are always within reach.

  • Slowly bringing Durdle Door to life in watercolour — there’s nothing quite like trying to capture that iconic arch and blue sea.

  • Caught mid-stroke in my happy place — where the paint is plenty, the tea is strong, and my brain is full of colour. This is where the magic (and the mess) happens.

  • Still smiling about this one — so honoured to be a finalist in the SAA Artists of the Year! Proof that following your creative spark (and sometimes winging it) can lead to lovely things.

As Seen In / Exhibitions

  • The Simple Things Magazine (issue 127)
  • SAA Artists of the Year 2024 Exhibition - The Nottingham Society of Artists’ Gallery on Friar Lane in Nottingham
  • Summer Exhibition at Upton Country House, Poole, Dorset
  • Dorset 20:20 Open Art Exhibition, Wimborne, Dorset
  • Colins Nest Cafe, Poole, Dorset
  • Holmes Place, Orchard Cafe, Wareham, Dorset


Crafty Cow Design is where my journey began, and it will always hold a special place in my heart. This is where you'll find my Bible verse prints, coastal art, wildlife paintings, and a range of work that reflects the different seasons of my creative life.

If you're drawn to more contemporary, abstract work, I'd love to invite you to visit KateShephardArt.co.uk.
That's where I share my latest abstract paintings and fine art prints—pieces filled with colour, movement, and that vibrant calm I'm always chasing. It's where my artistic heart lives most fully these days, exploring freedom, emotion, and the beauty that helps us all breathe a little easier.

Thank you for being here, for supporting my work, and for letting art be part of your world. It means more to me than I can say.