Your oeuvre is incredibly wide, yet certain themes—baked goods and canned foods—resurface more often than others. Is this a reflection of what you like to eat? Or do you recreate familiar foods to make your art more accessible?

I guess the foods I recreate are mainly influenced by what I am eating. I am constantly inspired by different dishes from around the world.

Other times my creations depend on commissions I undertake from clients. Recently I was commissioned to create a huge piece of work comprised of 24 different burgers for a restaurant in Dubai, which included different fillings such as beef, chicken, halloumi, fish, and more. Another recent commission was from Panzers, a famous North London Delicatessen. They commissioned me to recreate their famous smoked salmon and cream cheese bagels to celebrate their 75th birthday.

I have an obsession with tins and have been collecting them for years to use within my practice as an artist. Every time I visit a new country I make a beeline for the local supermarket to check out what tins they have in stock. The most popular 'tinned art' I sell are sardines, but there is also tinned lobster, squid and pineapple, the last of which I have recreated as a bodybuilding hunk or pineapple hunk.

I think my work is accessible as everyone has their own personal relationship with food and the memories they evoke.

You sure can wield your darning needles, but how fare you at the stove?

I’m not bad at cooking although I never have enough time to devote to it, well, until lockdown started! I stopped eating meat four years ago but still eat seafood, which I don’t think I could stop eating. Plus, it does always seem to make a regular appearance in my art. My favourite dishes to cook are spicy curries and ramen, and I like to experiment with flavours from other countries such as Morocco, India, Thailand, and the Middle East. I love discovering new flavours and ingredients, and trying out new recipes.

Some of your artwork is incredibly lifelike whereas the other half has a humorous skew: baguettes sporting berets, angry croissants, and Zen dumplings. How do you breathe personality into the latter, which are almost puppet-like?

I don’t really have a specific formula when it comes to putting my personality into my artwork. I guess it’s a spontaneous reaction that forces the characters out of my imagination. Sometimes an idea jumps into my head and works immediately, other times I have to write something down in my sketchbook and let it sit there for a while.

I get a huge amount of pleasure by playing with word puns as there are endless possibilities and they put a smile on people’s faces.

I’m partial towards the bright pink lobster you crafted to benefit breast cancer awareness. Have you championed other causes through your art?

The lobster you are referring to was made for the wonderful exhibition 'She London' last October 2019. I have supported the charity 'Art for Cure' for the past two years to help raise funds for vital breast cancer research and other supportive services. Other charities include Macmillan Cancer Support London, Martlets Hospice Brighton, Emmaus Homeless Charity Brighton, and Innovate Trust Cardiff. I am also planning to raise money for the NHS who are in desperate need of help in light of the coronavirus pandemic. 

You’ve exhibited at some impressive locations throughout the world, the London Eye included. What was that like?

The London Eye installation was an incredible event. In 2009, Champagne Pommery became the official champagne of Frieze Art Fair, one of several art events the house supports. In 2010, I was commissioned to create a pop-up invitation-only exhibition in one of the pods on the London Eye as part of the press launch for Frieze. I created a unique launch party featuring knitted champagne bottles bearing the Pommery label alongside crocheted canapés with beaded caviar, knitted smoked salmon, and crocheted lemon slices.

I’m cross at myself for having missed The Art of Love Bakery in Hong Kong in January 2020. Have you exhibited elsewhere in Asia or have plans to?

I’m sorry to hear you couldn’t make it to my most recent show in Hong Kong. I love Asia and had lots of potential projects in the pipeline, but sadly these have been paused for now. I do have plans to show in Asia again towards the end of this year (fingers crossed), hopefully in December but cannot reveal which part or what it will be as everything at present has been put on hold for the foreseeable future. I can confirm the bakery will be shown in London in October this year so that is something to look forward to after months of self-isolating and social distancing.

I’m sorry that your studio shop in Brighton has to shutter temporarily, but it’s good to hear that you’re still taking online orders. How does one go about the process of getting a custom-made Kate Jenkins piece?

I know. It saddens me greatly that my business has been affected by the coronavirus, but at least I am fit and well and able to create new artwork. I am lucky to have a website where people can purchase my art directly at www.katejenkinsstudio.co.uk. I can also be contacted via email at info@katejenkinsstudio.co.uk if anyone wishes to commission anything bespoke. I ship worldwide and am more than happy to discuss ideas for specific artworks. You can also follow me on Instagram where I post regular updates of new work at @kjcardigan.