I support the Head of Creative Development on creativity and innovation leadership across OnFife, programming and planning; bringing creative ideas & added value to your activities. I lead on the Design Suite in the Adam Smith Theatre, co-curate our four Community Galleries and develop creative projects in partnership with our stakeholders.

Uniting diverse and passionate individuals to create an exceptional peer-to-peer design and innovation leadership community, exclusively for top-level leaders. Through open communication, shared knowledge, and collective problem-solving, we drive excellence in innovation and design, with the aim of shaping industries, transforming societies, and creating a better future for all.DesignLeaders Community is coming soon!

Due to the cost of living crisis and the pressures put on businesses in the current climate, my role was unfortunately made redundant.

I founded Vanilla Ink in 2009 to bridge the gap from education to industry. It’s values were based around community, knowledge share, support and empowerment. Built on transparency and honesty, Vanilla Ink responded to the needs of the trade, giving makers the best opportunity to learn to be a jeweller/silversmith in today’s landscape. It constantly grew and evolved, most notably with the addition of Vanilla Ink The Smiddy in Banff, Aberdeenshire, providing a centre of excellence for… Show more I founded Vanilla Ink in 2009 to bridge the gap from education to industry. It’s values were based around community, knowledge share, support and empowerment. Built on transparency and honesty, Vanilla Ink responded to the needs of the trade, giving makers the best opportunity to learn to be a jeweller/silversmith in today’s landscape. It constantly grew and evolved, most notably with the addition of Vanilla Ink The Smiddy in Banff, Aberdeenshire, providing a centre of excellence for silversmithing.I was pivotal in the setup, running and management of the whole organisation, taking Vanilla Ink from inception to established CIC. I am no longer part of the organisation and left at the end of 2020. Show less

Spring Fling is a vibrant visual art and craft open studios event covering the length and breadth of Dumfries and Galloway in South West Scotland; it is highly regarded as one of the UK’s most successful contemporary visual art and craft events. Spring Fling developed in to a year round organisation running projects across the region to support and promote it's creative culture. Kate worked on a number of projects that involved a high level of organisation, planning and development to get the… Show more Spring Fling is a vibrant visual art and craft open studios event covering the length and breadth of Dumfries and Galloway in South West Scotland; it is highly regarded as one of the UK’s most successful contemporary visual art and craft events. Spring Fling developed in to a year round organisation running projects across the region to support and promote it's creative culture. Kate worked on a number of projects that involved a high level of organisation, planning and development to get the projects off the ground. She also worked on the promotion and social media presence of Spring Fling CIC. Spring Fling has now evolved in to Upland CIC; a bold, ambitious, world-class, rural-based visual art and craft development organisation with Spring Fling the event one of it's core activities. Kate played a part in the development of the organisation and helped to organise it's launch symposium that saw a sell out event held at Dumfries and Galloway College with a host of brilliant speakers. Show less

Working across the design disciplines of Design and Craft, Kate designs and delivers workshops on design thinking, methods and methodologies. Since January 2012, Kate ran the Design and the Market module, a module that pushes design students to think about entrepreneurial-ship, business and how to carve a job for yourself in todays ever changing landscape.

Teaching jewellery at a beginners and intermediate level to range of students. A ten week night class that enables the students to learn how to make and finish pieces of jewellery.

I spent two days a week within a commercial retail jewellers where I perfected my customer experience skills. Learning the workings of a high street jeweller enabled me to pick apart the whole selling experience.

I worked one day a week in the Jewellery department engaging with students, observing first hand how their work developed pre degree show.

I helped Malcolm within the jewellery workshop, making jewellery to his designs. I interacted with customers, jewellery dealers, exhibition curators and students. Within the time that I worked with Malcolm, I participated in the engravers society symposium where I helped with the running of the event.