Artist and University of Bolton graduate Catherine Kleeli, has just returned to her university as a visiting artist, talking about her work to fine art undergraduates.
Having graduated 2007 with a first class honours degree in Fine Art and a governor's prize for outstanding academic achievement, Catherine has since been busy showing her work extensively, in more than a dozen exhibitions across the country.
Said Fine Art Senior Lecturer, Rebecca Sitar: 'We are pleased that Catherine is doing so well. She showed much promise as an undergraduate student; indeed, in her second year her work was selected for the Wrexham Print International. Since graduating she has undertaken several commissions, exhibition projects and has delivered master-class print workshops utilising gum arabic transfer printing to professional artists and lecturers in further education.
'Recently her work was selected for the Seventh British Mini-Print International exhibition which is currently touring the country; Kleeli is certainly one to watch in the future.'
Catherine is currently exhibiting in Preston where her Swan Song show has opened at Preston's PAD Gallery in Birley Street.
The works, which feature a variety of birds, represent her mother's dementia and the loss of her identity.
'The exhibition is a contemplation of the very topical subject of dementia and is my personal response to witnessing my mother's advancing dementia,' said Catherine.
'Given the government's recent pledges on improving care for dementia sufferers and Sir Michael Parkinson raising the profile of the issue by taking on the role of ambassador for the Dignity in Care campaign, the staging of this poignant exhibition couldn't be more timely.
'Using the analogy of the "swan song" - being a person's final flourish - I have used birds as metaphor to convey in visual language the sense of imprisonment, the loss of independence, the loss of identity I think a sufferer must feel as the condition advances.
'Using visually powerful imagery I am trying to engage people in the subject that more and more of us will be forced to address in our lifetime as we live longer.'
Swan Song is part of a wider project called Family Matters, which focuses on topical issues of significance to the family.
The exhibition will run at the Preston gallery until February 20.
Art is a second career for Catherine who studied for her degree part-time: 'The opportunity to undertake a part-time Fine Art degree fulfilled a life-long ambition and followed a change in career direction, having spent 20 years in management, in both the public and private sectors,' said Catherine.
Pictured, top, is Catherine at her Preston show and below are two pictures from the exhibition