Kath Unsworth is a visual artist based on the South Coast of New South Wales, Australia. Working primarily in pen, ink, coloured pencil, and collage, she explores the space between close observation and imagination through depictions of native birdlife and garden ecosystems. Her practice is deeply shaped by her surroundings—lush bushland, shifting seasons, and the birds who arrive and depart on their own terms.
Kath first became known for intricate black-and-white pen and ink drawings, where fine line and pattern invite slow looking. In recent years she has expanded into coloured pencil, using light, colour, and contrast to convey mood and emotion. A pivotal moment in her artistic journey followed the Black Summer bushfires of 2020. After losing her rental home and witnessing the devastation of local habitats, her work gained a renewed sense of purpose.
Since then, Kath has focused on honouring resilience in nature and encouraging care for the small, often overlooked details of the everyday world. This shift led to coloured pencil works on black paper, creating an intimate, emotive counterpoint to her earlier monochrome pieces. Her current body of work documents the gradual renewal of her garden and the return of birdlife in Quaama, a long-term project. I believe our deepest sense of peace comes from an inner connection with the natural world around us.
In the quiet presence of a bird, a moment of birdsong, or a fleeting glimpse of beauty, we're reminded to slow down, be present, and appreciate what so often goes unnoticed.
For me, these moments are about being still, grounded, and connecting with nature without disrupting its peaceful rhythm. That is why I create.
My work is an invitation to pause—to reconnect with nature, find a sense of stillness, and carry that feeling into everyday life.
If my art helps someone feel a little more connected to the natural world and, in turn, to themselves, then it has achieved exactly what I hope it will.