Kay Davenport

Acclaimed British artist Kay Davenport draws her inspiration from the beauty and vitality of nature and wildlife. Her enchanting floral paintings capture the fleeting moments of the natural world, from dew-laden blooms at dawn to windblown petals at dusk, celebrating every stage of life’s delicate cycle.

During the warmer months, Kay often ventures out at first light, camera in hand, to photograph flowers as they begin to open. Her keen eye for detail allows her to capture not just perfect blossoms, but also the charm and quiet beauty of a flower past its prime. She often observes bees resting on the petals, their stillness offering her the perfect opportunity to record these intimate natural scenes that later inspire her original floral paintings.

Kay’s distinctive technique combines oil and acrylic to create a rich interplay of texture and colour. She paints her foregrounds in oils, appreciating their versatility and smooth blending properties, while her backgrounds are rendered in acrylics to achieve depth and luminosity. Occasionally, she enhances her work with touches of gold or silver leaf, adding a subtle radiance that catches the light and elevates each composition.

With over 20 years of professional experience, Kay’s artistic journey began after visiting an exhibition by the renowned wildlife artist David Shepherd. She recalls being captivated by the way he used blues, greys, and purples to depict frost on a bramble bush, a moment that defined her resolve to become a professional artist.