Karen is an award-winning mixed media and textile artist living in Cardiff.  She designs and creates original and vibrant contemporary artworks, specialising in handmade paper, paint, stitch, collage and surface construction. Her artworks capture experiences and responses to her surroundings – societal issues, and feelings, and memories.  You’ll often recognise found and recycled objects in her artworks. Enjoyment, fulfilment, and wellbeing are at the heart of her work which is forever evolving – no two pieces are the same. With a BA hons in Art and Craft Studies Karen inspires people of all ages and abilities through creative workshops: from the very young – teaching children to sew, embroider, paint and to be inventive with paper; whilst also enriching the lives of older people living in care with advanced dementia, other illnesses and disabilities.  Everyone in between is catered for - from Art and Design students, families attending community arts festivals, and members of groups like the WI. In East Cardiff, Karen is striving to address the lack of a dedicated community arts space by cultivating a network of professional and semi-professional creative practitioners and those living and working in the area who have a passion for the arts. Her own work can be followed on most social media platforms as KarenOSheaArt.