FINDING THE MAGIC
Kath Leone & Natasha Searston
An exhibition by two printmakers celebrating their mutual love of finding the magic in nature
26th November – 13th January 2025
“Above all, watch with glittering eyes the whole world around you because the greatest secrets are always hidden in the most unlikely places. Those who don’t believe in magic will never find it.” - Roald Dahl
These words perfectly capture the sentiment shared by artists Kath Leone and Natasha Searston, exhibiting together for the first time. United by their mutual love of nature as a source of creative inspiration, they are particularly fascinated by the tiny, magical ecosystems found on forest floors and within coral reefs.
When these two printmakers first met in an East London screenprinting studio they were captivated by each other’s work and immediately began dreaming of collaborating on a show. “Finding the Magic” brings together their contrasting yet complementary styles in a sparkling celebration of nature and the joy and magic it holds.
Kath Leone
Seahorses - detail
Kath Leone
Planet o loveshrooms gold - detail
Kath’s painterly style is intricate and detailed with a dynamic sense of movement, perhaps influenced in part by her background in textile design and also by a condition called Synaesthesia, which continually adds colour, texture and shape perception to her experience of everyday life.
In contrast, Natasha’s paired-back illustrations demonstrate her fondness for bold shapes and negative space and her ‘naïve’, simplistic style creates a sense of calm and stillness that compliments Kath’s rich, energetic compositions.
Natasha Searston
Drifters 1
Natasha Searston
Glowshroom
Whilst Kath and Natasha’s stylistic approaches are quite different, the mood of their artistic expression has much in common. Whether they be dramatic sculptural mushroom formations, tiny otherworldly sea creatures, or majestic plant life, for Kath and Natasha these enchanting worlds are brimming with magic and induce an almost childlike sense of wonder.
Their individual interpretations of these scenes both take on a surreal, dreamlike quality with the addition of strange little characters, curious happenings, or vivid colours and sparkles that stray from the natural world. There’s something playful and mischievous in both of their approaches to making art, with the aim of sparking joy and turning the ordinary into the extraordinary.
Kath Leone and Natasha Searston
Finding The Magic
In celebration of their contrasting printmaking styles, included in this exhibition is a special collaborative limited edition piece, which Kath and Natasha – also known as ‘The Mushroom Girls’ – have created together for the show with 50% of proceeds going to support the important community work of St Margaret’s House.
To buy Kath’s work - https://www.kathleone.com/shop
To contact Kath - https://www.kathleone.com/
To buy Natasha’s work - https://natashasearston.bigcartel.com/
To contact Natasha - https://natashasearston.com/ABOUT