Karen was born in Lambeth, London in 1961. She studied fine art at the University of Newcastle-upon-Tyne, graduating with a first class Honours degree. During this time she was awarded the John Christie Scholarship (1982), the Hatton Prize (1983) and the Annabella Winship-Smiles Travelling Scholarship (1984).

Her works range from Bristol cityscapes to Cornish seascapes, but have a common thread running through them all. She creates an ambience, through the layers of paint, building to an essence of the atmosphere she feels when out sketching her subjects. Her complex skies give drama to her works, culminating in brooding rain studies, bleak snow scenes or warm, balmier seascapes. In 2004 she was elected as a member of the RWA.