Kav Solder is a local artist, based in Torquay. Although she has been immersed in art for as long as she can remember (weekend trips to the National Gallery and Tate with her Dad were a regular thing!) it has always been a hobby rather than a career.

She studied art at A-Level but then pursued a career in teaching and psychology recently graduating with a Doctorate in Educational, Child and Community Psychology from the University of Exeter. 'As you can imagine, the demands of a doctoral course and placements were highly challenging, and art was my therapy; it was the one thing that kept me sane amongst the mounting workload. Furthermore, I used art to capture my surroundings and document my physical and metaphorical journey'.

Although now based in Torquay, Kav is originally from Essex and has worked in London and Exeter. Leaving family and friends behind can be isolating but again, art has proved to be her companion. Capturing her new landscape of picturesque moors and rugged coastlines is hugely inspiring and she has also dabbled with new media.

Kav's preferred medium is Indian ink and nibs typically embellished with watercolours or wash. However, the last few years have seen her taken out of her comfort zone and she has experimented with chalks, clay and printmaking. She has tried lino, lithographs and found an affinity with screen printing.

Printing is perhaps widely associated with the bright colours of Andy Warhol, but Kav's prints are somewhat different. 'I like the subtleties of the monochrome world hence my work uses black, cream and some grey tones overlaid on a brown fabric. The image has an air of hope about it; looking beyond a fenced area into the beautiful city. It is symbolic of optimism and new beginnings. Locking experiences and thoughts to the current position so they can be referred to, but daring to leave that behind to explore what else life has to offer.'

Torre Abbey Winter Fest 2017