Karen was born in Hwange, Zimbabwe and studied art at high school in Bulawayo to ‘M’ Level.

In 1981 Karen and her family emigrated to South Africa and settled in Somerset West, just outside Cape Town.
Several years later Karen’s husband accepted a five-year contract in the Sultanate of Oman, followed by a year in the UK. During her time in Oman Karen had the opportunity to begin painting in earnest, under the tutorship of the well-known Oman-based artist Sheffy Tattarath. Her paintings, all in oil, sold well amongst the local and ex-pat market whilst she was in Oman and she continued to paint and sell her work when the family moved to spend a year in Windsor, UK.

In 2007 the family returned to Somerset West and Karen has continued to paint and sell her work in local Cape Galleries, at several markets and exhibitions and undertake commission work.