Local Kingswells father and daughter duo have invited the community to step inside and experience their unique blend of creativity, craftsmanship and artistic flair.
Katie’s artistic journey began long before this joint venture. A graduate of Gray’s School of Art in 2017, she has taken part in North East Open Studios (NEOS) for the past eight years. Her mixed media paintings, inspired by nature and gardens like Johnston Gardens, capture light, reflection and movement through layers of encaustic wax, oils, watercolours and resins. Each piece reflects her eye for beauty and detail, with a harmonious use of complementary colours that brings her landscapes works vividly to life. She also creates smaller gift ranges, as well as a jewellery line crafted from clay and resin. “Painting has always been therapeutic for me,” she shares. “I’ve lived with chronic illness since I was 14, and art helps me slow down, relax and focus on the beauty around me.”
For Katie, NEOS has brought more than just an audience for her art. It’s where she first met her now-husband, who bought a painting in 2018, came back to collect it and invited her out for tea. “We got married this April,” she beams. “So NEOS has been pretty life-changing!”
Her dad Mark came to his creative practice later in life. A year before retiring, he began experimenting with furniture restoration — what started with a chair in need of repair soon grew into a passion for giving cabinets and smaller pieces of furniture a fresh lease of life. His work is marked by quality, with a keen eye for selecting stunning fabrics that elevate each piece. “I realised it was something I could keep doing,” he says. “It’s not just upholstering — it’s more about brightening up and making over furniture.” Largely self-taught, he’s showcasing his upcycled creations alongside Katie’s work.
Creativity, is something that runs deep in their family. Katie fondly recalls sitting alongside her dad as a child, watching him paint delicate watercolours. “I used to always love painting with Dad,” she smiles. “He did beautiful watercolour paintings, and I really enjoyed being part of that.” The thread goes back even further — her grandfather also took up painting when he retired, continuing the family’s artistic story across three generations.
For Katie, that legacy of creativity has been both grounding and inspiring. “It’s really special to be doing this together. I feel more relaxed sharing the experience with Dad — we work well as a team.”
Looking ahead, Katie is preparing for a solo exhibition opening on 10th October at Newton Dee, while her dad continues to take on furniture commissions. Both also offer bespoke work: Katie with painting commissions and jewellery, and Mark with custom furniture makeovers.
Visitors still have one last chance to see their work together — today, Sunday 21st September, is the final day of their NEOS home exhibition. If you have a moment to stop by, we encourage you to experience their artistry and beauty firsthand. For those who can’t make it along today, both artists are active online. Katie shares her work on Facebook at Paintykt - Art by Katie Hammond, while Mark can be found on Facebook at @markdoandmend.
Their joint venture is more than just an exhibition — it’s a celebration of creativity, family and the healing power of art. For Kingswells locals, it’s a chance to see what happens when talent and tradition come together under one roof.
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