Kate Gradwell

As a migrant from the UK to Australia, I feel an incredible sense of gratitude to live here in Sydney.



Over the last 25 years I have come to adore the Australian bush, and I feel a very strong connection to the land I inhabit and the nature that surrounds me.



My love of the Australian landscape is what inspired me to pick up a paint brush and will continually inspire me for as long as I can make art.



As a young child I was always interested in the natural world. My first aspiration was to become a naturalist, along the lines of one of my early heros, Gerald Durrell.

I always had a leaning to the sciences, but a strong appreciation of art. I went on to study Natural Sciences for undergrad, and afterwards a PhD in Chemistry. I then worked for 15 years in strategy and change management.

In the early 2010s I had the opportunity to explore my lifelong interest in art, learning from inspiring and talented artists. I started painting full-time in 2016.

My art practice focuses mainly on landscape and portraiture using a range of methods and media. In portraiture, I particularly focus on interesting and inspiring subjects that I connect with, such as the commission to paint Sydney University’s first female head of Chemistry, Ass...

1993 Bachelor of Arts, Cambridge University UK
1997 Doctor of Philosophy, Oxford University UK
Master classes and workshops with many recognised and award winning artists

2025 Little Things Art Prize finalist​
2024 Tumut Art Prize
2024 NBG Art Prize Finalist
2024 Bluethumb Art Prize Finalist
2023 Winner Bluethumb Art Prize People's Choice
2023 Heart of the Bush finalist
2022 Bluethumb Art Prize finalist
2022 Group Exhibition 'Grounded', Weswal Gallery Tamworth
2022 Group Exhibition 'In The Frame' Sydney Road Gallery, Sydney
2022 Affordable Art Fair, Sydney
2021 Bluethumb Art Prize finalist
2021 Solo Exhibition ''Close To Home'' Brenda Colahan Fine Art
2020 Solo Exhibition ''A Brief Moment in Time'' Brenda Colahan Fine Art
2020 Bluethumb Art Prize finalist
2020 Moonee Valley Art Prize finalist
2019 Archibald Finalist
2016 Portia Geach Award finalist
2016 Warringah Art Prize finalist
2016 Hunters Hill Art Exhibition finalist
2016 Kirribilli Art Prize finalist