Award-Winning Artist
City Lit student Katharina Rieppel recently won the 2025 Cass Art Prize in the Over 65’s category.
Her winning painting, ‘The Swimming Pool’, is a reinterpretation of a vintage photograph. Katharina started the painting in colour but continuously rubbed it out and repainted it. This is what gives it it’s eerie effect.
The result? An impressed judging panel. She was awarded £1,000 worth of art supplies, and a spot for her painting to exhibit in the Copeland Gallery in Peckham because of her award. ITV also reported on her fantastic achievement.
The Cass Art Prize champions contemporary art from across the UK and the Republic of Ireland. The Prize’s namesake, Cass Art, offer a £10,000 top prize to the overall winner.
Katharina and City Lit
Katharina developed her eye for art over a number of years. Before her time at City Lit she was a photographer in London in the 1980’s and 90s.
But as her career was wrapping up, Katarina wasn’t done with the arts. In fact, she was just getting started.
In 2019, whilst her peers were thinking about retirement, she signed up for the Foundation Diploma in Art and Design at City Lit. The course introduces a wide range of materials, techniques and processes. It also supports students in identifying and developing creative interests and thinking.
Developing as an Artist
Ending in the Summer of 2021 – due to Covid – she then went on to study a BA in Fine Art Painting at Camberwell UAL. “The tutors at City Lit were very much instrumental in that,” she told us.
“They were so encouraging to try and apply for a degree course, which I really had not planned to do at all.
That is what City Lit does so well; they teach you to give yourself permission to try something new and a bit scary! So, I am very grateful for that.”
Katharina went on to develop further as an artist with an MA at Central St Martin’s. But like many students, she continues to come to City Lit for leisure, swapping the paintbrush for a song sheet as part of our lunchtime choir.
City Lit is very proud to have played a part in her journey.
Study at Art & Design at City Lit
Katharina started her journey to award-winning artist with an Art & Design course at City Lit. Why can't you?
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