There is a heightened sense of realism in any artwork by Kate Birch – bright, positive and optimistic – and yet you’re left in no doubt that there’s a human hand behind the image. In her paintings, the world around us becomes vibrant and colorful, made real by the way she embraces the materials and surfaces she depicts. Liquid, metal, glass, fabric, smoke and even the enigma of an orange flame – her creative world has a tangible feel to it that holds the gaze of the viewer.