Kate is working towards an authorial voice in her poetry that both reflects and enhances the graphic arts through language; and not only that, but a voice which speaks both naturally and playfully to readers and listeners of all ages.

As a richly talented visual artist, Kate brings her eye for colour, texture, shape, light and shade, into her writing as she explores ways in which views of the world can be assembled, juxtaposed, made intriguing and appreciated anew in words.

Original and Inventive, now reinventing words through poetry! A true 3D artist…creative magic in pictures and words!

Working with Kate in ‘Each Step Club’ for Age Exchange can be described in one word: JOY. Not only in the joy of working alongside Kate but in her ability to entice joy within a group. Kate offers herself as an artist completely and holistically, drawing together her wealth of experience stretching across different disciplines. Within the musical activities, which I led, Kate contributed confidently so as a facilitator I felt supported.

For our exhibition, Beauty and the Beast; falling in love with insects, we commissioned Kate to be an artist in residence to create an insect hotel. Kate’s friendly and curious nature, meant that her conversations with visitors in the Museum about insects and our world came easily, generating ideas, thoughts and connection.

It’s always a pleasure working with Kate; every week she brings her inspiring ideas and materials, expertise and enthusiasm to our Wednesday morning sessions. Because of the playful yet calm atmosphere and the fascinating environment she creates, you can lose yourself in her intriguing projects, becoming totally absorbed in the moment as she helps you magically, almost imperceptibly, connect with your creativity in whatever way your heart desires. Kate shows great respect for people’s differing needs, approaches and styles and it is a joy participating in sessions where creativity, conversation and friendships flourish.

With the pandemic Kate has been able to complete the Insect hotel in her studio – connecting with people via virtual workshops and sharing her creativity with Emmaus Manchester, one of the Museum’s partners through the Arts and Homelessness network. We’re looking forward to the Insect Hotel returning to the Museum and finding a new home in a school or care setting – where Kate’s artistic interpretation of what an hotel for insects might lead to further creativity on the role of care for insects, biodiversity and climate change.

Artist Kate Eggleston-Wirtz is a delight to work with, her contribution to the hospital sessions bring creativity and colour into an otherwise cold and clinical environment. There is no shortage of fun and laughter too. Kate’s empathy for patients, kindness to visitors and enthusiasm with staff ensures that all have a chance to join in.

Kate brings a passion of bringing people together to explore their own creativity. In the Museum, Kate has created lively and thoughtful workshops for adults and families, inspired by our collections.

Thank you for a wonderful Story Time yesterday.

Your research and presentation of the history of Lytham was outstanding the Grandfather Clock now also has a place in the history of Lytham.

Thank you for your time and your enthusiasm during the workshop; we were a diverse group of novices and you inspired and guided everyone to produce a piece of individual art. I thoroughly enjoyed the morning and proudly showed my artwork to everyone I passed in the street on my way home.

Thanks for a brilliant workshop. Loved hearing about all the exacting research that went into each separate part of the fabulous Grandfather clock – wonderful.

It was lovely to watch you working and helping to inspire creativity in children, they were so happily engrossed in their art works. You are like an arty pied-piper with children.

I have observed the work that Kate does and her creative forms of caring. Kate’s sessions include storytelling, exploring her fantastic collage objects, and at the centre is the opportunity to create and make using a range of materials and the opportunity to share and have conversations. Throughout the sessions, patients were often smiling, laughing, or busily focused on their creation.

The interesting thing about working with Kate is it’s very, very interesting. Kate researches her subjects thoroughly and is able to incorporate her findings into her work in seamless ways. The resulting artworks are visually coherent and intriguing which entice the viewer to look more closely to see the detail which also makes them useful learning resources for different public and community settings.

“Kate’s bespoke, hands-on workshops engage all ages and abilities. Her Aladdin’s Cave of appropriate materials, found objects, text and equipment and her boundless enthusiasm seem to tap into everyone’s creativity.”

Kate delivered a number of workshops at the Grundy Art Gallery, engaging adults and children through her unique collage techniques. She demonstrated a commitment to high quality engagement, and brought a great sense of humour and dynamic delivery style.

I was incredibly impressed with Kate’s approach, creativity, enthusiasm and commitment to her work, always going the extra mile to ensure that she could achieve the best results possible for the community participants and end users of her educational artwork.

We had a wonderful time at the workshop. All three of my children loved the exercise and got totally lost and absorbed in their creations. Kate was fantastic, very inspiring, funny and the children adored her creativity. They took great pride in what they made and they still talk about our time in the studio. I would most definitely recommend and would visit again.

…In Kate’s workshops she ensures you have all the tools and guidance needed to tap into your own creativity; she switches on the light and then allows you to see how to develop yourself in your own way and style.

Now many, many, years on I still have my piece of Kate inspired work. It’s had various homes over the years and travelled the world with me, which funnily is apart of me, which is represented in the piece.

When crafting my very own piece of art I believed it to be a snap shot of where I was in time and a reflection on where I’d been. Now many, many, years on I still have my piece of Kate inspired work.

This was my first studio based workshop and I was not quite sure what to expect, but Kate’s was certainly the one to choose. Entering the studio is an experience in itself, to be surrounded by her work and a collection of the most bizarre items imaginable. For the project we were presented with a heart-shaped box and a dazzling array of eclectic materials with which we were encouraged to explore our own creativity. Kate’s enthusiasm was infectious and I came away with my own individual ‘treasure’ and a new way of seeing the potential and beauty in the simplest of objects, new or old.

We had a wonderful time at the workshop. All three of my children loved the exercise and got totally lost and absorbed in their creations. Kate was fantastic, very inspiring, funny and the children adored her creativity. The children took great pride in what they made and they still talk about our time in the studio. I would most definitely recommend and would visit again.

Entering the studio is an experience in itself, to be surrounded by her work and a collection of the most bizarre items imaginable.

Kate’s enthusiasm was infectious and I came away with my own individual ‘treasure’ and a new way of seeing the potential and beauty in the simplest of objects, new or old.

Kate was an important part of our educational team for the Lancashire Witches 400 project, during which she led a team of young people to understand how this history can be made relevant to today, using creative processes. She has a fascination with the unusual and the discarded, and a playful way of experimenting with materials which ends she happily shares with others.

The School of Creative Arts and Digital Industries at Blackpool and the Fylde College worked with Kate last March… Kate ran a workshop on creating three-dimensional art works. The session was very well attended by a wealth of Graphics, Illustration, Fine Art and Fashion students, who enjoyed and thoroughly benefited from Kate’s expertise and experience…and we’re all looking forward to future collaborations!

Kate introduced me and my Mum to assemblage. We created a lovely tribute to my late father by making a box that contains items of importance to him e.g. watches, badges, combs, tools, photographs etc. The box is a point of interest and stimulation for most, but importantly for my Mum. It provokes memories which helps her dementia and gives us both a focus and conversational piece. A wonderful experience-thank you Kate.

Kate produced an intricate and fascinating take on Blackpool’s history, using found objects and memories for the Blackpool Artist in Residence project. The artwork was a great catalyst for conversations for young people about Blackpool’s past including the donkeys, hotels and Pleasure Beach. The educational pack Kate produced proved a big hit with schools.