Kaye Howarth’s life journey, starting from her early days in Norfolk, has been deeply intertwined with art, resilience, and a love for animals. Born in 1966 in the rural landscapes of Norwich, Kaye’s earliest experiences with art were simple yet comforting. She spent her rainy childhood days with a roll of wallpaper and colored pencils pulled from a cupboard under the stairs, giving her an outlet that would become her anchor throughout her life.
Raised in a complex environment, Kaye’s childhood saw her traveling across Europe and even behind the Iron Curtain, where she lived in various places with her family. However, a difficult family background caught up with them back in England, leading to a family split after the discovery of her father’s abuse. It was then that art became a sanctuary, a way for Kaye to mentally escape from a world that was often too overwhelming for a young child. Her mother, who was her sole support after the separation, secured a one-room bedsit, and Kaye’s creative expression became her way of processing her surroundings. Drawing and sketching became part of her everyday life, a quiet yet steady companion in those formative years.
A key part of Kaye’s childhood involved her love for animals, something that grew from an early job opportunity. A local stable offered her work in exchange for riding lessons, sparking a life-long love for horses. Alongside the horses were dogs that she and her mother rescued and cared for, deepening her connection with animals as they added stability to her life. As she continued with her studies, Kaye took art as a C.S.E. subject, nurturing her early talent in drawing, painting, and pencil sketching, which would evolve in her adult years.
At sixteen, a significant shift happened when Kaye’s mother accepted a job as a secretary at Powell Manor, and they moved from their council flat into the manor’s west wing. This new setting allowed Kaye to keep exploring her love for horses and dogs in her art. She focused on soft-colored pencil portraits, illustrating animals that represented a sense of peace and happiness during these years.
Her path was far from easy, though. When Kaye was 34, she faced a daunting challenge with a diagnosis of Stage 3 breast cancer. After a mastectomy and six months of chemotherapy, Kaye came through with newfound strength and an even greater appreciation for life. This period inspired her to write Blue Jay: Surviving Breast Cancer, a candid recounting of her experience that found its way to the shelves of the Weymouth Library. Art again became a form of therapy, and Kaye turned to her artwork with renewed purpose, capturing the quiet strength she had developed.
Life after cancer found Kaye in Worcester, where she continued to be close to horses by loaning one for rides twice a week. Unfortunately, an accident during one of these rides left her with a badly injured hand, her dominant hand, requiring surgery. Rehabilitation through art became a way to regain her motor skills, and she devoted herself to relearning the very basics of her craft. This period was a re-discovery of her passion as much as it was a physical recovery. Art became her physical therapy as well as her mental escape, helping her cope with the limitations her injury imposed. Although working with horses was no longer possible, Kaye took comfort in creating their likenesses through her sketches.
Today, Kaye’s work continues to reflect her love for horses and dogs, the animals that have accompanied her throughout her life. One of her recent works, Blue – Horse Portrait, showcases her talent in capturing the spirit of her subjects. Using soft colors and gentle shading, she brings out the serene yet powerful nature of the horse, a symbol of strength and resilience that resonates with her own journey. Her dogs, Jack and Pablo, are often close by, adding companionship to her creative sessions, especially on the rainy days that call her back to the comfort of drawing.
With her art practice today, Kaye celebrates life’s small joys despite the hardships. Her art reflects her life’s challenges, from a complex family past to health struggles and recovery, blending therapeutic value with a quiet beauty. For Kaye, art is more than a skill; it’s a means of endurance and a way to keep her spirit alive, one portrait at a time. Whether painting horses or sketching scenes from nature, Kaye Howarth has found her way forward through the creative process, embracing each day with the tenacity that her art embodies.
