English Home

42 THE ENGLISH HOMEKatie studied at Chelsea College of Art in the 1980s,was the recipient of the prestigious Biddulph PaintingScholarship and sold every piece in her MA finalshow. She is inspired by historic artists, such as AlfredMunnings, Edgar Degas and Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, painting on sheets of copper and steel, layeredwith gold and silver leaf, contrasting the metallicsurfaces with the organic, vibrant and physical natureof her subjects. Her works often include elements ofcollage and text, including racing cards and otherequestrian ephemera.Her finely tuned artist’s eye is evident throughoutthe house. “I haven’t consciously planned the roomshere – I buy what I love and then move things aroundto fit.” Over the years, she has stumbled upon pieces,from a four-poster bed to tiny embroidered almspurses, and a successful exhibition or the completionof a commission can also result in unexpectedadditions to her collections. She regularly visits IndigoAntiques in Manningford Bruce, Wiltshire, en route``````to her framers, PR Elletson, in Pewsey. Whenshopping in nearby Hungerford, she is rarely able toresist a look in Youlls Antiques, often succumbingto temptation. No wonder that her home is full ofintriguing and interesting objects, all eye-catching andwith a wonderful story to tell.Katie’s love of colour, layering and texture is mostevident in the family’s two sitting rooms – the Red andGrey rooms, tucked away in the oldest part of thehouse. Sofas are strewn with a collection ofneedlepoint cushions and almost every wall is coveredwith paintings of animals, including Katie’s studies ofthe horses and performers at Giffords Circus – anannual and popular visitor to nearby Marlborough inthe summer months. A trip to Hong Kong for her firstinternational exhibition cemented Katie’s love ofOriental paintings, furniture and fabrics – the strikingcollection of antique blue-and-white china she broughtback on her lap (when luggage allowances were moregenerous) are displayed in the Grey Room.``````ABOVE The stoneflooring throughoutthe hall and kitchenis from ClassicalFlagstones. Thefamily’s equestrianendeavours arecharted by rows ofrosettes adorning the16th-century beams.OPPOSITE The fourposter is from AndSo to Bed, whilst thechest of drawers isfrom Youlls Antiques.TEH UK DEC15 HOUSE - O'Sullivan copy.indd 42 20/10/2015 17:10