Kim Harley-Griffiths

“Growing up on the edge of an ancient woodland in Colwyn Bay, North Wales, I was immersed in the sounds of nature and the otherworldly calls of animals from the nearby Welsh Mountain Zoo. As night fell, these primeval soundscapes sparked vivid dreams and fuelled my imagination, leaving a deep and lasting impression on my creative spirit. This early connection to the natural world, tinged with mystery and mythology, continues to shape my work today.

My journey as an artist began as a children’s book illustrator.  I have always believed that the essence of capturing nature is not through rigid precision, it must be felt, embraced and translated through spontaneous, gestural mark making. I want to portray how animals and birds move with power and natural grace. This is what I strive to achieve through drawing, painting and sculpture; it all connects. In recent years I have discovered the tactile, transformative qualities of clay and found a medium truly in tune with my vision. Working with clay allows me to bring to life my creatures and mythical figures, where touch and form merge to tell stories of folklore, nature, and transformation.

On my journey I have drawn inspiration from The Mabinogion, with its rich tapestry of Welsh mythology, and most recently Shakespeare with their timeless, haunting narratives. This has led to my ongoing series of ‘Bwbach’, changeling sculptures, which explore the delicate line between the human, animal and the mythical, metamorphosis and themes of identity and transformation. I have a studio in Liverpool’s Baltic creative district, where I continue to create my drawings and paintings, and a ceramic studio at home on the Wirral.”

Sculpture by Kim Harley-Griffiths