KATE HESTER

I’m Kate – a professional ballerina and illustrator, devoted to the elegance of movement and the power of storytelling.

Ballet has always been my first love. From a very young age, I’ve dedicated myself to the art form with unwavering focus, a journey that has led me to perform at some of the world’s most iconic venues, including the Royal Opera House, Royal Albert Hall, Sadler’s Wells, the London Palladium, and the Peacock Theatre. Dancing remains at the heart of everything I do.

Alongside my performing career, I’m also an illustrator, a path that began in 2020 during my first professional ballet contract, and one that has grown into a natural extension of my artistic voice. My illustrations, often inspired by the stage, fairy tales, and the daydreams of childhood, have been commissioned and featured by institutions such as London Children’s Ballet and the London Vocational Ballet School, and shared by platforms including the Royal Opera House.

I grew up dreaming on train rides into London for ballet class, creating stories and characters with my mum as we passed the countryside. That same sense of wonder and imagination still shapes my work today. I’ve always been inspired by the worlds of Hans Christian Andersen, Oscar Wilde, and the Brothers Grimm - stories that speak to resilience, gentleness, and dreaming boldly.

Though I now balance two creative careers, it’s a privilege to express my artistry in more than one form. Every time I step into the studio, I feel the same love I did as a little girl and it’s that joy and determination I try to carry into all I do.

Thank you for visiting my website and shop, and for taking the time to explore my world; one shaped by pointe shoes, pencil lines, and the belief that storytelling can take many beautiful forms.