Abstract Nature Artist

Hi and welcome - I'm Karen, your host at  Well House Haven at the top of the beautiful Nidderdale AONB in North Yorkshire. As well as creating this exceptional new art venue I am also an aspiring artist

Life has taken me through many twists, turns and shifts, from a 20+ year career with BT to 6 years as a ski instructor then to a stint of property development and more recently running a successful holiday let business.  My creative passion has ebbed and flowed but never faded.

The last 5 years has seen my definitive return to art. Following an introduction to  mixed media in the summer of 2018 I enrolled on a six month diploma  course in 2018/19 at the Anteros Arts Foundation in Norwich. This exceptional and wide ranging course served as a springboard to try mediums I would not have otherwise considered, such as using watercolour with different materials, unconventional fusion art and graffiti. 

I discovered the endless possibilities of painting with mixed media through additional short courses under some inspirational artists such as Lewis Noble, Robert Dutton, Sally Hirst, Louise Balaam and Tracey Ross. I followed this up in September 2019 with an in-depth 18 month Oil Painting Diploma  run by the internationally renowned artist, Martin Kinnear at his Norfolk Painting School

During the Covid-19 pandemic, I also used the nation's lockdown as an opportunity to take some great online art courses from the UK and Nicholas Wilton's  Creative Visionary Programme based in the USA

I moved to North Yorkshire in June 2021 where after an extensive search found the perfect site to set up an art venue and retreat in the striking landscape of the Nidderdale AONB. The property required extensive work, which was an artistic pursuit in its own right,  but is now ready to welcome like-minded creatives in search of peaceful inspiration.

As you will see from the pictures below I don't live alone! I reside in the Annexe next to Well House which is reserved for visitors so no need to muck in with the animals though they will all be pleased to meet you.