Kirsty Maclennan, Biography

A bold and versatile artist, Kirsty Maclennan unapologetically embraces her dynamic creativity and curiosity. Unfettered by a single medium or style, Kirsty freely explores and interprets the world around her through a deliberate and carefully considered array of lenses, each more captivating than the last. Challenging assumptions and unveiling new truths and perspectives, her work reflects her own modern exploration.

Born and raised in Gateshead, Kirsty grew up immersed in the North East’s diverse creative culture. It therefore comes as no surprise that this unique environment, shaped by its proud industrial past and dynamic contemporary present, has had a great influence on her work.

“Whatever I’m working on, I always find myself drawn to home and the people that surrounded me growing up. There is a very distinct ambience to the North East; it’s earthy and warm and rough around the edges. I’m very proud to come from a place like that.”

Kirsty channels her creativity into a range of often intersecting mediums including painting, illustration and writing. With no formal training, she prefers to trust her own instincts, avoiding the influence of others where possible to remain true to her own perspective and vision.

Today, Kirsty lives and works in York, creating from her home studio. Her illustrations have been published in collector’s editions of Brontë classics and Bram Stoker’s Dracula. In 2024, one of her paintings was selected from over 1,400 submissions to be shown at the Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art’s Open Submission exhibition. In the same year, her illustrations for Dracula were exhibited at the Pannett Art Gallery in Whitby. The collection, titled ‘God’s Women, Good Men and Monsters’ then went on to be exhibited in London at the Crypt Gallery, St Pancras in early 2025, before ending its tour in York.

10 available artworks by Kirsty Maclennan