Kate Bentley RI RSW SWA

Kate Bentley Profile

Kate Bentley began her artistic journey as a sculptor and theatre designer but transitioned to a full-time professional painter by 1999. Her work is deeply influenced by her surroundings and the landscape, reflecting her identity as a “painter of life.”

Bentley’s art is heavily informed by en plein air sessions and life drawing, which serve as the foundation for her narrative paintings. Her narrative pieces are a product of her appreciation for the human form, patterns, chiaroscuro, and theatrical elements. These works are born in the studio, where she engages in mark-making, revisiting studies, and reworking older pieces through extensive experimentation. This process allows themes to emerge naturally, often mirroring her life experiences, both past and present. Bentley’s fascination with mark-making, layering, and textures drives her continuous exploration and innovation in her work.
Her narrative art evolves organically, capturing the essence of human experience and the beauty of the natural world around her.

  • Royal Scottish Society of Painters in Watercolours, Royal Scottish Academy, Edinburgh 2025- 22,2019,2017

    Society of Women Artists Annual Exhibition, Mall Galleries, London. 2025-22,2020-13,2010-05

    Royal Society of Painters in Watercolour Annual Exhibition, Mall Galleries. London 2025-22,2020,2018,2017,2014,2013,2010,2008

    Royal Society of Painters in Watercolour Exhibitions-Iona House Gallery, Oxfordshire & Watermark Gallery, Harrogate 2024

    Society of Scottish Artists-Scottish Royal Academy 2021,2022 & Dalkeith Palace 2024

    Open Eye Gallery, Edinburgh ,2024-22

    Morningside Gallery, Edinburgh 2025-22

    New Light Prize Touring exhibitions 2020-21 & 2023-24 -Williamson Art Gallery &

    Museum, Birkenhead. Bankside Gallery, Southbank, London. Rheged Arts Centre,

    Penrith.The Biscuit Factory, Newcastle. The Mercer Art Gallery, Harrogate.

    Glasgow Art Club-Scottish Prize for Fine Art Exhibition- 2023

    Women in Art Fair, The Mall Galleries, London -2023

    Discerning Eye Exhibition, The Mall Galleries -2023

    Society of Scottish Artists-Maclaurin Gallery,2023-4

    Royal Society of British Artists, Annual Exhibition, The Mall Galleries, London 2024-22

    New English Art Club 2022

    Royal Society of Marine Artists Annual -2021,2023

    Royal Birmingham Society of Artists 2020,2018,2016,2014,2012,2005

    Royal Watercolour Society, Bankside.2014,2013,2009

    Lakes Artists Society 2019-2007

    Birmingham Watercolour Society 2013

    Edinburgh Art Fair 2022,2019,2018,2015,2014

    Manchester Art Fair 2019,2018,2015,2014

    Affordable Art Fair, Battersea 2024on text goes here

  • 2024-Kimono, The Eduardo Alessandro Studio Gallery,Dundee.

    2024-Kimono Journeys, The Morningside Gallery, Edinburgh.

    2023-Kimono Stories, The Whitehouse Gallery, Kirkcudbright

    2022 ‘Ruskin’s Reverie No 2’ at The Blue Gallery, Brantwood,

    2020-21 ‘Ruskin’s Reverie’ Artist in Residence Exhibition, Brantwood, Coniston.

    2017- ‘Ophelia’, Bellwood &Wright Fine Art Gallery, Lancaster

    2015 ‘Drama in the Dales’, The Lime Gallery, Settle.

    2013 ‘Skyline’ The Lime Gallery, Settle.

    2011 ‘The Darker side of Light’, Severn Studio, Brantwood, Coniston

  • 2024- Awarded membership to the Royal Scottish Society of Painters in Watercolours

    2023-The Sea Pictures Gallery Award - Royal Society of Marine Painters Annual Exhibition

    2023-The Hosking House Trust Prize - 6 th Annual Women’s Emerging Artist Painting Award

    2023-Awarded membership to the Royal Society of Painters in Watercolours

    2022-The John Wood Award- The Holly Bush Emerging Woman Painter Prize, London

    2020-3 rd Prize -The Holly Bush Emerging Woman Painter Prize, London

    Second Prize -The Upfront Open Exhibition, Upfront Gallery, Penrith

    2019- First Prize -The Upfront Open Exhibition, Upfront Gallery, Penrith

    2018- The John Entwistle People’s Choice Award-Lakes Artist Summer Exhibition

    2018-Awarded ‘The Private View Prize’-The Cumbrian Open Exhibition, Upfront Gallery, Penrith.

    2017-The John Entwistle People’s Choice Award-Lakes Artist Summer Exhibition.

    2017- Awarded-Lancashire Life's Landscape Artist of the Year

    2017-Prize Winner ‘2 nd ’ The Cumbrian Open Exhibition, Upfront Gallery, Penrith.

    2016- ‘HRH Princess Michael of Kent Watercolour Award’-Mall Galleries, London.

    2014- Awarded associate membership to the Royal Birmingham Society of Artists

    2014- Awarded Full membership to The Society of Women Artists, London.

    2013-Prize-winner at the Royal Birmingham Society of Artists ‘Annual Prize Exhibition’

    2013- Awarded associate membership to The Society of Women Artists, London.

    2012-Awarded membership to the Lakes Artists Society

    2012-Awarded membership to the Birmingham Watercolour Society

    2012- ‘The Peter Tyson Award’ -The Lakes Artists Society

    2010- ‘The Rheged Prize’ -The Lakes Artists Society

    2008- ‘The Winsor and Newton Choice Award’- The Society of Women Artists

    2005- Portrait Award- Granada TV. North-East Finalist-for programme “A Brush with Fame”

Examples of Kate’s Work

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Cath Ball- Stitched Ceramics

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David Lush