An Artist’s Portrait
Last Summer Artist Kate Trafeli invited me to take her portrait whilst working at Coombe Farm Studios in South Devon. The studios are nestled into the valley of the River Dart and are, in my opinion, one of the most beautifully rural areas of Devon. I trundled down on a warm summer’s evening, in the first week of July, to meet Kate and see her paintings.
Photographing an artist is always a unique experience, but when the subject is someone as dynamic and visionary as Kate Trafeli, it becomes a journey of discovery. Trafeli’s work is as much about process as it is about product—her creations often explore texture, colour, and emotion, each piece reflecting an intimate dialogue between the artist and her materials. Capturing Kate in her element meant documenting not just her, but her process—her thoughts made visible, her hands translating the intangible into something solid.
Kate’s work really resonated with me, the rich warm colours and large canvases are so immersive and inviting. Her brushstrokes are vivid and evocative. Together we created some images that reflect Kate as an individual and as and artist.
Trafeli’s art challenges and inspires, and photographing her is just a small part of the larger narrative she is continually building through her creativity. It’s a privilege to witness that process firsthand, capturing a moment of artistic evolution that will be the foundation for the next big leap in her ever-expanding body of work.
