She is, if you will, a visual poet weaving images, symbols and archetypes into paintings that resonate in the subconscious and linger there like half-remembered dreams or the dark fairy stories with which she has such affiliation
Pip Palmer, Galleries Magazine
ABOUT CATHERINE HYDE
Award-winning artist Catherine Hyde lives in Helston in Cornwall and works in her ‘studio in the sky’ at the top of her Victorian home.
She trained in Fine Art Painting at The Central School of Art in London and is renowned for her symbolic, atmospheric paintings and poetic books.
The Lighthouse Gallery in Penzance has represented her for over twenty years, where many collectors, old and new, keenly anticipate her shows. The Gallery is happy to discuss projects and commissions of her work, and a wide range of her cards, books, calendars, and prints are always available.
Greeting cards and calendars are available nationwide via John Austin Publishing (trade only) and Love from the Artist (public and trade sales).
If you are a business interested in stocking Catherine Hyde’s prints and cards, please email us at chydeart@gmail.com for details.
I grew up in the ancient port town of Gravesend in North Kent, experiencing a more urban than rural childhood but with the freedom, as was common in the late sixties, to roam and play outside all day. This, combined with a home full of books, visits to museums and galleries, and outings to castles and prehistoric sites, was rich fuel for my imagination.
As a child, I was lucky enough to be a precocious reader. I galloped through Grimm (with terror at my heels), constantly revisited the melancholy world of Hans Christian Andersen, and gleefully recited the poetry of AA Milne and Spike Milligan. I read everything but found I was most drawn to writers like John Masefield, L.M. Boston, Eleanor Farjeon, Elizabeth Goudge, C.S. Lewis, and the mighty Alan Garner – stories infused with layers of myth, archetype, and magic.
Having studied A-level Art, English Literature, and History, I trained in Fine Art Painting at the Central School of Art in London. I fell in love with Central the moment I set foot in it. The serious grandeur of the building, its sweeping staircases, massive studios and the seductive smell of oil paint, egg and chips completely entranced me. After three hard but amazing years, during which I learned how to paint and how to make mistakes, I was only certain that I was ready to leave city life. My parents had moved down to the Kent/Sussex border, so I went ‘home’ and my love affair with the countryside began.
The move from town to countryside, exchanging noise and bustle for trees and quiet, was like a balm. Bruised from the intensity of the degree, I went back to drawing: jugs of flowers, fruits and patterned fabric, my family, myself, the cat. I baked cakes and tried to make sense of everything. As I worked and walked, finding the cycles of the lengthening and shortening days reassuring, I slowed down and tuned into myself. I read, becoming increasingly fascinated by folklore, the Green Man, and the earthy magic of the hare. I discovered Ted Hughes and John Cowper Powys and looked afresh at the Neo-Romantic painters of the 20th century.
Being in the landscape, my paintings and drawings developed, filling with symbols and archetypes, both real and imagined, layering meanings, creating atmosphere. Above all, I fell in love with the night and the liminal spaces where edges seem tremulous and uncertain.
For over forty years, I have worked to create a personal vision that celebrates the cycle of the seasons and responds to the natural world with the same wonder I felt as a child hearing blackbird song striking colour into a gloomy afternoon and watching the moon rise over the garden wall.
Moving to Helston in 2001 with my husband and two daughters was a dream fulfilled. Surrounded by the sea, Cornwall is an ancient land filled with songs and stories. Its unique light and mists, secret woodlands and flooded inlets are a constant source of inspiration and joy.
BOOKS
With my love of books, poetry and children’s literature, it is unsurprising that I am drawn toward Fine Art Illustration. In 2009, I was asked to create a series of paintings in response to Carol Ann Duffy’s fairytale, The Princess’s Blankets. Being asked to respond to a text was a groundbreaking project for me, and since then, I have become increasingly interested in exploring the connection between words and images, seeing them as complementary and vital parts of each other and myself.
PHOTOGRAPHY
For the past few years, alongside words and paintings, I have been learning the craft of photography. Capturing the light and creating atmosphere in this medium has become an obsession and a passionate delight – a journey I am only just embarking on.
MIXED AND SOLO SHOWS
Ainscough Contemporary London
Beaux Arts Bath
Charleston Farmhouse Sussex
Elementum Gallery, Sherborne
Falmouth Art Gallery
Foss Fine Art London
Illustration Gallery London
Iona House Gallery Woodstock
John Noott Gallery, Broadway
Lemon Street Gallery Truro
Lighthouse Gallery, Penzance
Mall Galleries London
Rostra and Rooksmoor Bath
Towner Gallery Eastbourne
Twenty Twenty Gallery, Much Wenlock
Yew Tree Gallery, Morvah, Cornwall
BOOKS
DARKLING, THE OWL’S SONG
Shortlisted for the Holyer an Gof Award for Poetry 2025
Apollo (an imprint of Bloomsbury) Non fiction: Nature poetry
‘Pairing stunning art with lyrical poetry, this ode to the owl is deeply compelling on multiple levels, ‘ Barnes and Noble
‘Prize-winning poet and artist Catherine Hyde celebrates the magic of the night from dusk till dawn’, Apollo
‘Darkling is a magnificent praise song that honours both the darkness and the owl. Lyrical in both word and image, it is a wild triumph.’ Jackie Morris
‘Step into a mesmerizing world of enchantment with Darkling: The Owl’s Song by the acclaimed poet and visual artist, Catherine Hyde. This exquisite book invites readers on a nocturnal journey, revealing the hidden beauty and mysteries that come alive after dusk. With a unique blend of poetry and stunning illustrations, this book captures the magic of wildlife.
The pages turn into a canvas of vibrant imagery that complements the lyrical prose, creating an immersive experience that sparks imagination and curiosity. This book is more than just a story; it’s an invitation to appreciate the enchanting aspects of the natural world, particularly the elusive beauty found in the night.
As a celebrated work in the children’s fiction category, Darkling: The Owl’s Song stands out due to its striking artistic presentation and the emotional depth of its themes. Additionally, this book has garnered attention for its artistic merit, making it an ideal gift for special occasions.
With its enchanting narrative and breathtaking illustrations, Darkling: The Owl’s Song is sure to resonate with readers and enrich any bookshelf, encouraging exploration of the wildlife that thrives in the shadows.’
Sherlock and Pages
THE BEE AND THE SUN
Winner of the Holyer an Gof Award for Poetry 2022
The Bee and The Sun: a calendar of herbs by Catherine Hyde: Zephyr 2021
THE HARE AND THE MOON
The Hare and the Moon by Catherine Hyde:Zephyr
THE STAR TREE
The Star Tree by Catherine Hyde: Frances Lincoln
Shortlisted for the 2017 Cambridgeshire Children’s Picture Book Award
Nominated for The Kate Greenaway Award
LITTLE EVIE IN THE WILD WOOD
Little Evie in the Wild Wood by Jackie Morris: Frances Lincoln
Nominated for the Kate Greenaway Award
FIREBIRD
Firebird by Saviour Pirrotta: Templar
Awarded an Aesop Accolade by the American Folklore Society
Nominated for the Kate Greenaway Award
THE PRINCESS’ BLANKETS
The Princess’s Blankets by Carol Ann Duffy: Templar
Winner of the English Association Best Illustrated book Key Stage 2
Nominated for UKLA and The Kate Greenaway Award
THE SNOW ANGEL
The Snow Angel by Lauren St John
Cover art and interior black and white illustrations
ILLUSTRATIONS:
Editions 1 – 5: Elementum Journal
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BIO
b.1960 Dartford, Kent
1978/9: Foundation studies Medway College of Design, Kent
1979/82: BA (Hons) Fine art painting Central School of Art, London
