A career artist with a lifelong passion for all visual creativity, Kate Swain is among our long-standing Themed Art Contest participants. An active contestant since ‘K14: Ultimate Bullseye Challenge’, she has produced more than a few memorable works of Aim Games Tournament art. “I was always interested in art. Colouring in as a young child basically stayed with me throughout my adult life.  I used to sit at my parents' dining table with all my oil paints scattered, painting pictures like trains and seascapes. At secondary school many years ago, I had my artwork out on display in various places around the school. I went to art school where I covered many different aspects of art and design such as photography, screen printing, textiles, life drawing etc.,  and then onto university where I studied fashion and design. From there I worked in the textile industry and always added my own creative flair to whatever I did. Over the years I’ve used a lot of different paints, but I think my favorite will always be oils as they’re so forgiving. Finding the time to draw or paint has been the biggest issue for the past 20 years, but I am happy to say that very recently I have converted my garage into a craft room. It’s always been something I have wanted, but I’ve never had the space or time to do anything about it. Now that my children are all grown up, it’s now time for me to get creative.” 

As with many Aim Games art contestants, Kate is both an Aim Games athlete, and member of an Aim Games family. “I started throwing in 2018 at my local club, where my son was a member, since the age of 15. The community was always so welcoming. This is where I met Paul “The Butcher” Swain, my now husband, who encouraged me to join. I was very quickly hooked, and for several years participated in competitions throughout the country.”

Reflecting on her own Aim Games experience, Kate cherishes the outlet for creative expression and opportunity to bring family together. “After taking part in the competitions, I was so happy when I found out about the Themed Art Contests. They have given me reason to be creative again. I remember sitting, one New Year’s Eve, painting all the flags from around the world of countries that, at the time, had entered the Aim Games. It then became a prize for the games when we had it printed onto t-shirts. My greatest piece has to be The Knight for ‘K15: The Shield’ . I really got creative with this one and used a large table top with a mixture of spray paints and acrylics. I had yet to use spray paints but since we had them laying around from spraying our throwing targets I thought why not! The knight is now situated in our home bar/ craft room. It has a hand-forged dagger made by myself and Paul and a sword hung onto it. It's now tradition that anyone who comes to our bar must have their photo taken against it where we then display around the bar. I absolutely loved how free I could be with them, how quick I was able to create something. Since then I’ve used the same method and if there’s any wood lying around the garden, I generally save it to paint on. In the past, the whole family has taken part in the competitions, with many prizes won by all of us. It’s such a great way to get people from around the globe to come together as one community. We now have friends from all over the world, many of which we have been fortunate enough to meet in person. I can’t wait for more Aim Games Themed Art Contest to come, even more so now that I have my craft room.”

Aim Games Themed Art Contest Select Achievement Record

Contest # 3

K14: Ultimate Bullseye Challenge - 5th place

Contest # 4

K15: The Shield - 1st place

Contest # 6

H7: The Tunnel - 3rd place

K19: The River - 3rd place

Contest # 7

K20: Forest Nightmare - 5th place

H7X: Awful Amusement Park - 3rd place

Contest # 8

Holidays and Seasons - 4th place, 6th place (tie) and 11th place (tie)

Kate was also commissioned to create the artwork for H5: The Tower!