The ability to tell a story on canvas and a love of animals and the Old West have played an important role in Kathy's burgeoning success in the art world. Well-known for many years in Thoroughbred racing circles (her work is owned by such well-known collectors and horse enthusiasts as Nelson Bunker Hunt, Bruce P. McNall and Allen E. Paulson), Kathy has found new markets with her depictions of life in the Old West and of course, animals.

A California native, Kathy studied art in Southern California schools and colleges before moving to Oregon where she immediately fell in love with the wilderness and the animals that inhabit it. As word spread about her ability to capture the "look" of the animals in her paintings, she began doing commissioned work. This and her reputation as a top-class horsewoman led to her success in the racing world.

Kathy and her family moved to Santa Rosa, CA, in 1992 and she instantaneously understood why the Wine Country was such a desired place to live and vacation. With her camera in tow, she has traveled throughout Northern California taking pictures that she has transformed into oil paintings.

A long-time supporter of animal rights, from the beginning of her career, she has donated a share of her income to groups like Defenders of Wildlife, the World Wildlife Fund and the Sonoma County Humane Society and that share her love of all things living. She continues to receive requests for commissioned domestic animal portraits as well as wildlife scenes.

Another personal interest that Kathy has developed into her work is the Old West. Her faces of cowboys and Native Americans in their habitat have proven popular with clientele. Her portrait of Uncas, the warrior in the movie Last of the Mohicans, has gained notice from critics of as has "Playing for the Deed," her painting of cowboys playing cards in the wilderness.

Earlier this year, Cattlemens Restaurants joined the growing roster of collectors and businesses that have acquired paintings from Kathy. Oils of the Old West, Native Americans and vineyards now adorn the walls at the corporate offices of the Santa Rosa-based restaurant chain.