elected 1983
Born in Bristol in 1940, Kathie Layfield studied textile design at Loughborough College of Art continuing her studies at Leicester College of Art where she received an Art Teacher’s Diploma. She went on to teach art in several of Leicestershire’s secondary schools, FE colleges and De Montfort University and was an ‘A’ Level Design examiner for Oxford University Board of Examiners for 8 years.
Kathie Layfield
Drama was an important part of Kathie’s life. A member of Leicester Drama Society and Leicestershire Youth Theatre, as well as designing sets, costumes and promotional materials Kathie directed and appeared in many productions.
Kathie Layfield is best known for her work as an illustrator for Ladybird Books where she worked as a freelance between 1975 and 1984. She worked on 28 books and co-wrote two about Drawing and Painting. She took part in Book Fairs and gave talks to schools and art societies nationally. A solo exibiition of her illustrations was held at Charnwood Museum who hold many of her illustrations in their Ladybird Archive. She once said “I can honestly say my Ladybird Years were the happiest and most fulfilling of my life.”
Kathie took early retirement from teaching to pursue her career as an independent artist, illustrating book jackets and taking commercial projects for local printing companies. She undertook portrait commissions, including a portrait of the then Lord Mayor of Leicester, Bob Wigglesworth. Reluctant to relinquish her interest in teaching, she ran drawing and painting courses and workshops, aided by her husband, in the Lake District, France and in Leicestershire at Whatton House and Brooksby Hall. Solo shows of Kathie Layfield’s work took place at Vaughan College, Little Theatre, Leicester and Frank Haynes Gallery in Great Bowden. Her work is represented in the permanent collections in Leicester Museum & Art Gallery and Leicester University and held in private collections in Britain, USA, South Africa, Italy and Russia.
Kathie Layfield died in 2022
