Karen Cater was born in Sussex, England in 1954. After studying graphic design at Norwich and touring Germany with a group of young Irish musicians, she became chief designer for a company manufacturing engraved glass. She began to compose images working in reverse in preparation for printing or sandblasting, a similar approach to that adopted for Hedingham Fair lino cut designs. In the 1980s Cater exhibited watercolours and drawings with charcoal or pen and ink. Her work is inspired by rural life and crafts, animals and nautical heritage and make wonderful greetings cards.
