My name is Katherine Betteridge and I’m a musician, photographer and artist eternally inspired by nature. I live in rural Wales and write music, take photos and paint pictures inspired by the landscapes around me.
However, my creative journey really began to take shape after 2020. That’s when I finally had the headspace to pursue what had been burning inside me for years. Previously, I’d studied music academically – bachelor’s, master’s and Ph.D. because I genuinely love it. But what I really needed was to create on my own terms.
Essentially, there’s an intense need in me to make things. To respond to the natural world around me through whatever medium feels right in the moment. Sometimes that’s composing music on violin and viola (or other instruments or digitally or doing field recordings out in nature). Alternatively, it’s capturing the way light moves through Welsh forests with my camera. Or it might be painting the colours I see in seasonal changes.
Furthermore, the relationship between women and water particularly draws me in. You’ll often find me wild swimming in the rivers and lakes around here. Consequently, much of my photography and filmmaking focuses on these elemental connections, especially during life’s major transitions.
Additionally, my work has become deeply intertwined with my own healing journey. After navigating loss, grief, and burnout, creativity became more than just what I do. Instead, it’s how I stay connected to myself and to what matters. Through my music, visual art, short films, and writing, I hope something might resonate with others who feel that same pull toward the wild places and the creative life.
I think you’ll get a clearer picture of me through this video. I hope you enjoy: