Artist Database

Katherine Hughes is a Tanzanian/British contemporary artist whose work explores the relationship between people, wildlife and the natural world. Raised in Tanzania and schooled in South Africa, she spent much of her childhood in the bush and on the Indian Ocean. She studied at the Art Academy London and the University of London Institute in Paris, and works with a palette knife, in bold colour and expressive mark-making. Working primarily in oils, Hughes paints not only the appearance of wildlife and landscape but the atmosphere of a moment. Her work has been exhibited internationally and is held in private collections around the world.
She collaborates with conservation organisations, donating a proportion of sales to wildlife, environmental and educational charities.

“My work begins with a sense of connection. Having grown up surrounded by wildlife and vast landscapes, nature has never felt separate from me - it feels like home. I paint with a palette knife because it allows me to work instinctively, embracing movement, texture, and energy rather than perfect detail. I am interested in capturing the feeling of a place or encounter: the stillness before sunrise, the weight of an elephant’s presence, the fleeting glimpse of a leopard disappearing into long grass. Colour plays a central role in my practice. Rather than simply describing what I see, I use colour to communicate emotion, memory, and atmosphere. I hope my paintings invite viewers to slow down, look more closely, and reconnect with the natural world.

Ultimately, my practice is driven by conservation. I believe art has the power to create emotional connections that statistics alone cannot. If a painting can inspire someone to care more deeply about the landscapes and wildlife we stand to lose, then it has achieved something beyond the canvas.”

“I have always found lions fascinating because they challenge the idea that strength only looks one way. When people think of lions, they often picture the male first - the mane, the size, the power. But spend enough time learning about a pride and you quickly realise that the lionesses are the backbone of it. They do the majority of the hunting, work together to provide for the pride, and play an enormous role in its survival. That is why I wanted the female front and centre in this painting. But this piece isn’t about one being more important than the other. What I find so interesting about lions is that their strengths are different. The lionesses are the hunters and providers, while the males help defend the pride and protect its territory. Each has a role to play, and neither thrives without the other. I think that is what drew me to this composition. It felt less like a portrait of two lions and more like a reflection on partnership - different strengths, different responsibilities, but a shared purpose. For me, this painting is a reminder that true strength isn’t always about standing alone. Sometimes, it is about what can be achieved together.”