Kay has exhibited at many local art exhibitions and entered several art competitions following on from the 2008 South East Bentlif Art Prize. After being Runner-Up in the 2009 Maidstone ‘stARTle Art Prize’ in 2011 Kay was shortlisted for the prize. Kay was Highly Commended in the 2010 and 2011 ‘Art Uniting People’ Exhibitions and won 1st Prize in the public vote at the Adult Education Art Exhibition in 2011. In May 2013, Kay was awarded the Jess Beazley Watercolour Prize at the Wrotham Arts Festival and won the People’s Choice Award at the 2012-2013 Bentlif Open Art Prize Exhibition winning a seven week solo exhibition of her work in the Maidstone Museum Barge Deli Café from July to August 2013. These are fantastic accolades and the praise for her work keeps coming.
The current work of art Kay is focusing on is called ‘Wealden Seasons' which embraces the style for which her art is becoming famous - a country scene throughout the seasons. This distinctive style is getting the art world talking and Kay explains the idea behind the split paintings she describes as ‘Changes’: “Since my life has slowed down, I've become very aware of the rhythms of each day, month and year. I am fascinated by the change of light and colour as time passes. Through the different seasons or time of day, the same landscape changes dramatically.”
“I have tried to capture this within the same painting or sometimes in an individual painting as a 'moment in time' within my memory. As you look at the divisional paintings, I hope you will almost be able to feel the change in temperature!”
Although this style seems to be making her mark on the art world, as I leaf through Kay’s portfolio it is apparent that Kay is not an artist who has limited herself to one emotion, to one style or one way of thinking. Her art reflects the world and it is refreshing. We met on a crisp winter’s day at a busy café in town yet after speaking with Kay and having a truly uplifting conversation I swear I could feel spring in the air.
'Catch Kay's exhibition 'Through the Looking Glass Window' at the Rose Yard this February. Contact Kay Gretton either e-mail her at [email protected] or call Tel: 07889 388871
Polperro Day- Kay Gretton