Dunn-Edwards Portraits: California Artist, Designer Spends Life and Career Looking on the Bright Side

Fresh Creative Perspective of Katie Brightside

For Katie Brightside, inspiration comes from unexpected places. “My friends joke about this with me,” said the artist, designer and visual storyteller. “I can look at the most mundane things and turn them into something creative. I just find beauty in so many things.” Brightside, born Katie Bright in Swindon, England, has quickly gained recognition in the art community thanks to her exceptional talent and capacity to integrate creative concepts. In an interview from her California home, Brightside acknowledged that her ability to view the world from a fresh perspective, a key skill for any artist, had its roots in her early years.

Her grandfather, Ray Wright, taught her to draw as a 7-year-old. “He was an old-fashioned graphic designer, and he used to do everything by pen,” she recalled. “He didn’t use a computer. I didn’t realize that he had given me such a powerful gift until I was older and began my career. He opened my eyes to this whole new world.” With this talent and determination to forge her own path, Brightside left her traditional school at age 15 to attend art school. She enrolled at Kingston University in her native London, a move that she recalled was both challenging and fulfilling. “I was suddenly in this candy land of students and artists and creatives of all these different ages,” she said. “So, it was eye-opening. One of my favorite times was when I was at school.” In 2001, she earned a Bachelor of Arts, with honors, in fashion design. She then moved to Treviso, Italy, where she worked as a designer for United Colors of Benetton.

Starting in 2002, she spent 10 years in Sydney, Australia, working as a freelancer for fashion designers, including Akira Isogawa. Sydney’s aMBUSH Gallery sponsored her first solo exposition in 2012. She followed that up with many other exhibitions. “It was in Australia that I started working with some amazing fashion designers,” she explained. “But I also realized that it wasn’t really what I wanted. I just wasn’t happy. But I also realized, after I found success in exhibitions, that I wanted a bit more education.”

She returned to London and completed her master’s degree in fine arts at the renowned Central Saint Martins. There, she further honed her skills through relentless study and introspection. “I developed a real craft for storytelling there, and it showed me to look more at how I approach things,” she acknowledged. “I developed a more organic way of thinking. But I was still unhappy. So, I consulted a mystic on a quest to determine where I would be happy. She told me I would be happy anywhere in Los Angeles, so that is where I moved.”

It was in California that she honed her Welcome to the Brightside creative agency, which she developed while in Sydney. The company has partnered with creatives from all artistic disciplines to manufacture wallpapers, murals, books, clothing, installations and more. Brightside launched The Digs Collection in 2019, a homeware company highlighting a succession of murals and substantial artwork available for purchase. “I realized after some time in Los Angeles that I was suddenly delighted,” she said of finding her niche in the city. “Everything I knew I wanted for my future was taking shape.”

Like other artists, the Covid-19 pandemic impacted her career. Brightside, who has a penchant for finding the best in every situation, focused on the benefits of having extended time off. “I used that time to invest in my portfolio,” she recalled. “I just created and produced. There were days when I drew from the moment I got up to when I went back to sleep. We all needed an escape from the world, and creating was how I did it.”

In June 2022, Brightside harnessed that creativity into new visual illustrations. She previewed The Bad Romance, Pretty Toxic Thing art exhibition at the Magic Box at the Mondrian West Hollywood. The experience also allowed her the opportunity to collaborate with Dunn-Edwards. She chose several bold paint colors, including Razzle Dazzle (DE5027) and Carnation (DE5046). She even incorporated Riviera (DE5753), her favorite Dunn-Edwards paint color, into the exhibition. “It is just stunning,” she said. “I love how bright and rich this beautiful turquoise shade is. It reminds me of actually being on the French Riviera.”

But the business side of things was not always easy. Brightside spoke candidly about the obstacles and challenges she has confronted in her career, despite her ongoing success. Early in her professional life, she had difficulty expressing her worth to her clients. “I know I am not alone in this,” she said. “People who aren’t creative or immersed in the art scene might find it difficult to understand all the steps involved in creating artwork. Creating something timely for a person, business or organization, for example, is not all you do. Artists have also trained to get to this point. Besides paying for the project, one should also consider that they are paying for the experience of that highly skilled artist.”

This initial struggle taught Brightside a great deal, and she is happy to share guidance with those interested in creative careers. “Just go for it,” she stressed. “Believe in yourself and don’t listen to people who doubt you. As I said earlier, just don’t be afraid to ask for your worth. I had moments earlier in my career where I stressed over that, but I realized that I knew my worth and so was unwilling to compromise. You must operate in a system of letting go and being indifferent to the outcome. If you don’t get a job, that job was not meant for you. Let it go and know that the person who gets that job will benefit.”

For her next project, Brightside anticipates the spring release of Once Upon a Cocktail–West Hollywood, a cocktail recipe book illustrated by her, highlighting 55 of the city’s most noteworthy bars, restaurants and hotels. Brightside explained that the publication would serve as a memento and a guide to the most spectacular drinking and dining establishments. Besides a signature cocktail and a recipe from each bar, the book will also include historical anecdotes about West Hollywood. “I am so proud of this collaboration,” she said. “I might be at the helm, but I have 55 venues, 55 press agents, and at least 20 sponsors thus far. I cannot wait!”

This year, Welcome to the Brightside will collaborate with the Hyatt interior team on the remodel of the Andaz Hotel, Sunset Strip. After a lengthy journey, Brightside is finally content with her surroundings and excited about the path ahead.

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