Katie O'Sullivan's immersion in the equestrian and sporting world began at a young age. Born in 1959 in rural Ireland, she was always surrounded by animals and was devoted to horses and riding. Her artistic talent was soon recognised and she attended Chelsea School of Art, receiving the highly acclaimed Biddulph Painting Scholarship.
With the runaway success of her first London exhibition in 1981 where a New York Gallery immediately purchased half of the show, Katie returned to Ireland and successfully painted and exhibited for 11 years. Today, Katie lives and works in Lambourn, in the heart of English racing country, with her four children and her husband, racehorse trainer and former top jump jockey, Jamie Osborne. From these inspirational surroundings, O'Sullivan has worked on numerous prestigious commissions and has an extensive list of international, public and private collectors. Although she rarely has the opportunity to exhibit because of these demands, she relishes the opportunity to express her artistic freedom within a one-man show.
With her use of imaginative composition, vibrant colour and unusual surfaces which include sheets of copper and steel and gold and silver leaf, her pieces are truly unique. Her art is further enhanced by her skilled draughtsmanship and thorough knowledge of equine anatomy to depict such powerful creatures.
Drawing inspiration from past luminaries of sporting art such as Munnings, Toulouse-Lautrec and Degas, O'Sullivan's skills range from more traditional equine and sporting themes, to other animals including donkeys, lions and tigers. This new body of work is brought to life by her exceptional talent.
