About me

I’m Kate Kos, a full-time artist based in Gorey, Co. Wexford, where I’ve lived and painted for more than two decades. My gallery sits in the heart of town, and you’ll usually find me there surrounded by colour, brushes and half-finished ideas, or outdoors with an easel in the back of the car waiting for the light to change.

I paint what feels familiar and meaningful to me – the coastline, changing skies, wild meadows and all the small moments that make me feel rooted in a place. Whether I’m working in watercolour, gouache or acrylics, I focus on colour, light and a sense of belonging. I love letting a scene shift as I paint it, adjusting rhythm, lines and shapes until the world feels a little brighter and a little more hopeful.

My work has been collected widely and exhibited across Ireland and beyond, and I’ve been fortunate to receive recognition at festivals and competitions over the years. I’m always grateful for the awards, but what stays with me most is when someone tells me a painting brings back a memory, lightens their day or connects them to somewhere they love.

For the past ten years I balanced my studio practice with teaching. I taught watercolour in Gorey Community School, ran workshops, demos and my own Friday classes in the gallery. Watching people discover their confidence with paint has been one of the highlights of my career. This year I’ve decided to pause teaching for a while so I can focus fully on painting and develop new ideas and larger bodies of work. It wasn’t an easy decision, but it feels right for where I am creatively. I may return to it again in the future.

I’m always exploring new ways of working, bringing together loose colour, expressive markmaking and moments of detail. I like finding that balance between observation and imagination, letting the work stay true to reality while leaving space for play and interpretation.

If you’re in Gorey, you’re always welcome to drop into the gallery for a browse or a chat – you’ll be greeted by me or my lovely assistant Niamh, and you can see whatever I’m working on at the moment.