About Catherine Chesters
Artist. Designer. Educator.
With a fulfilling career in entertainment, branding, and television that continues to this day, I now also devote significant creative energy to abstract painting, mixed media artwork, and community education from my studio nestled in upstate New York.
Background & Education
My formative years in the arts began properly in England, where I earned an Honours degree from the London College of Communication, following a Higher National Diploma in Design Communications at Suffolk College and an OND in Graphic Design from Durham New College. I've since expanded my practice through quite lovely courses in screen printing at The Gowanus Studios in New York, the Manhattan Graphics Center, and Otis School of Art in California.
Creative Journey
For quite some time, I balanced my professional life between New York City and the tranquil western Catskills. These days, I'm rather settled upstate, where I maintain my active design practice while simultaneously developing my artistic pursuits, managing my studio and gallery space, conducting classes and workshops, teaching within the community, and having the pleasure of showcasing fellow artists.
My design sensibilities continue to serve both local businesses throughout our upstate community and clients in entertainment, branding, and television. I've had the pleasure of creating distinctive visual identities for numerous establishments in our area, bringing a thoughtful aesthetic informed by decades of experience. This ongoing design practice, which balances local connections with broader industry work, complements and enriches my artistic pursuits, creating a fascinating dialogue between commercial design and fine art expression.
Artist Bio
Catherine Chesters is a multidisciplinary artist based in Sullivan County, Upstate New York.
Born in County Durham, England, she holds a BA (Hons) in Media Production Design from the London College of Communication, a Higher National Diploma in Design Communications from Suffolk College, and an OND in Graphic Design from Durham New College.
Growing up in the North East of England during the 1970s and 80s, Chesters experienced a world of stark contrasts—the economic challenges and social turbulence of post-industrial Britain set against the raw beauty of the countryside.
Her work explores the tension between the natural world and the human experience, transforming personal observations and life’s discomforts into ethereal, escapist imagery. Through mixed media and an intuitive approach, her art balances surreal visual language with playful optimism, reflecting the interplay between rural landscapes and the complexities of urban life.
Her career spans art and design across continents, including film collaborations, television motion graphics, and brand campaigns. Her artwork has been exhibited in New York City, at the Womankind Resilience Art Exhibition, the Wassaic Project, and the Delaware Valley Arts Alliance (DVAA), as well as internationally, with collectors from London to Mallorca.
Chesters now leads Chesters Studio in Barryville, NY—a studio and gallery supporting the creative communities of Sullivan County and beyond.
Artist Statement
My work has evolved as a direct response and reaction to my career in graphic design. The constraints and collaborative nature of commercial design created an internal frustration—a need to express and explore without bounds. In the studio, I allow an instinctual process to emerge and guide me. There is no plan, only a subconscious well of emotion, experience, and visual data that is unlocked through the act of making.
Experimentation and exploration lead the way. My background in design, structure, color theory, and printing techniques informs my curiosity and drives me to uncover layers of light, negative space, and shape that intertwine across the canvas. I work in mixed media to satisfy an ongoing need to keep discovering and pushing boundaries. Through this process, freedom of expression is released from a deep, subconscious state.
Community Engagement
I find quite a bit of fulfillment in sharing art with others as an instructor at Bethel Woods, the Tusten Social, and through various classes at Chesters Studio. These teaching endeavors have become rather an essential part of my artistic journey.
Recognition
Catherine’s work is represented by Cynthia Byrnes Art and Interiors and Elizabeth Sadoff Art Advisory. Artwork has been exhibited in New York City, at the Womankind Resilience Art Exhibition, the Wassaic Project, and the Delaware Valley Arts Alliance (DVAA), as well as internationally, with collectors from London to Mallorca.
Chesters now leads Chesters Studio in Barryville, NY—a studio and gallery supporting the creative communities of Sullivan County and beyond.
At Chesters, I continue to balance my art and design practice while fostering community connections through workshops and exhibitions.