ONE of the Island’s most prolific and successful graphic artists is showing off the highlights of the past ten years of her designs, including a remarkable new piece of work.

Ryde-based graphic designer Cat James opens her exhibition at the Quay Arts’ Clayden Gallery next Saturday, January 12, viewing daily until January 26. Entry is free.

Although you may not realise it, you’re probably already familiar with the work of this designer — it may have been driven past you on the back on a bus.

Cat works for clients across the Island and beyond through her own company, Pinkeye Graphics. Her work is visible on hundreds of shops and businesses, signboards and posters.

She trained at the Portsmouth College of Art and Design, and the Isle of Wight College, and has lived on the Island for 28 years.

She also works as a graphic designer for the Isle of Wight Council, helping to publicise the authority’s diverse services on leaflets, forms, adverts and even vehicles; from leisure activities to recycling, social care functions to the floating bridge.

If you live on the Island there’s a good chance some of her work is in your home right now.

Cat’s printed work usually has a deliberately short shelf-life and most of her artwork is free to see.

Works on display at the exhibition are mostly commercial pieces from Cat’s career as a graphic designer, as well as sketch books containing initial ideas.

Cat says: “Art galleries are often reserved for the fine arts; cerebral works with big price tags. Most of my work is free to see and is designed to be recycled or even thrown away.

“I am actually paid to do this — I make my living creating graphic art every day, and you can see my work in almost every part of the Island.”

Featured in the show will be images of shop fronts from prominent businesses, reproductions of bus graphics, leaflets, maps, cards, invitations, posters and much more. Cat will also be revealing a work created especially for this exhibition.