Kirsty Banks

Kirsty Banks is a visual artist living and working in Cornwall, with a deep passion for the outdoors and a strong commitment to addressing climate change through her work.

After studying Fine Art at Manchester Metropolitan University, she spent 20 years teaching Art at the secondary level. Throughout her teaching career, her love for the natural world and the environment grew, and her work increasingly focused on the Arctic, the ocean, and the urgent issue of climate change.

Kirsty's turning point came during her first visit to Svalbard, where she witnessed something heartbreaking—heavy rain in March. The rainfall was so intense that the ice in the valley began to melt, and the river running through the town opened up. It was then that she learned that Svalbard is the fastest-warming place on Earth. This experience deeply impacted her, inspiring a shift in her artistic practice to reflect the urgency of environmental issues, particularly the changing Arctic landscape.

Kirsty has since returned to Svalbard 5 times in total, immersing herself in this unique environment.

In September 2024 she had the most incredible experience circumnavigating Spitsbergen on a sailboat, where she was able to witness the awe-inspiring Arctic landscape up close.

Kirsty works primarily in mixed media, as she finds it gives her the freedom to express the complexity and beauty of the rapidly changing environment. Her work often incorporates abstract shapes and textures, capturing the transient nature of sea ice, glaciers, and the ocean.

Sea swimming, a daily ritual here in Cornwall, has also become an integral part of Kirsty's creative process. What began as a personal passion has evolved into a deeper exploration of water, nature, and the power of the elements—furthering her connection to the landscapes she seeks to represent.

Through her art, Kirsty aims to communicate her passion for the environment and raise awareness about the impact of climate change, hoping to inspire others to reflect on the delicate balance of our planet.