Hello, my name is Katie and I’m LocalHotelParking

Let me tell you a little about myself…

I am a hand-cut collage artist based in Manchester, UK. All my work is created non-digitally in my little studio in Levenshulme, full to bursting with bookcases, old moth-eaten National Geographics, massacred nature books and a floor littered with off cuts. I use my trusty Swann Morton scalpel (I have a little story about how I found it, you’ll have to wait till i release a blog to hear about that one), a variety of glues, and a heck load of patience.

I source all my materials in charity shops, second hand bookshops, auctions and, well… literally any where I can find them. I’ve been known to ask distant relatives, complete strangers and even root through skips to find useful material. I can often be found sat on the floor of dusty bookshops rooting through long forgotten magazines and centuries old books; I can’t think of a better way to spend a day. I believe that my work brings a new lease of life to the images I find, to be loved and appreciated by a whole host of new eyes. The re-invention of imagery is a main driving force behind my creative process.

I work mainly with vintage print, predominantly 1950s-70s as I adore the beautiful nostalgia they evoke. My work is heavily influenced by my overactive dreamscapes and I use my creative process as therapy to channel my emotion; I feel most calm sat hunched over my desk, carving up and creating fantastical creations.

I don’t digitally enhance my work, what you see in my shop is what I created by hand. I then crop. resize and add my logo for social media purposes. I believe that working solely hand cut creates a natural connection between the viewer and my work, spotting the imperfections that appear throughout existence.

I have been creating collage art for over ten years, it started out as a hobby, making daft cards and gifts for my family and friends, (check out below for an example of some really early work). You can find my first artistic log HERE, you will notice that I still use a lot of these designs all these years later! In August of 2018, I got a kick up the arse by a couple of nearest and dearest to get the wheels in motion to start to sell my work. It was something I had always wanted to do, but I never quite had enough courage to take the plunge.

I feel like I’m going strength to strength as an artist! I am stocked in a variety of shops and galleries across the UK )You can find them HERE.) and I’m always on the hunt for more stockists. I also frequently attend markets and art fairs across theUK, and I’m looking to travel further this year (join my mailing list to receive updates about where to find me next, or contact me to tell me about your local market). I’m proud to be a vocal member of the local makers scene in Manchester. I regularly contribute to The Sunday Times Style magazine, and I’ve been commissioned by several local bars and eateries. It’s been quite a journey so far and I can’t wait to share all my experiences with you throughout this new decade. If you have any questions or fancy a chat don’t hesitate to get in touch via: localhotelparking@gmail.com