Kathleen received a Bachelor of Creative Arts degree from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte and while there studied painting with acclaimed American painter, Maude Gatewood. My Healing Garden Series began with the commission of works for the Luck-y-Ray Daylily Garden in Louisville, KY. Influences on my work include classes at the Botanical Research Institute of Texas and layering techniques of artist Soon Warren.  The contrast of light and shadow is important in my watercolor paintings which are built in layers of underpainting and glazing to achieve vibrant colors.  The paintings of Georgia O'Keeffe,  one of the most influential American modernists painters, has served as a source of inspiration for Kathleen who has taken numerous classes from the Georgia O'Keeffe Museum in Santa Fe, New Mexico.

During her work with hospice over the last 24 years she began to explore and develop a healing arts program. As a therapeutic musician she is credentialed through the Harp for Healing Program as an Advanced Certified Clinical Musician. In 2005 Kathleen founded the Interlude Music and Art Program with Hospice of Cabarrus County. This program utilizes therapeutic music, visual arts, photography and poetry for relieving stress and pain in patients and caregivers.  In 2017 Kathleen completed the Healing through Art course from the California State University Institute for Palliative Care.  Foundational to Kathleen's work is the belief that viewing art can function as a healing, meditative practice. Research supports the healing qualities of exposure to art and nature.