With a BA (Hons) in Fine Art Photography from The Glasgow School of Art and a year at the Academy of Fine Arts in Vienna, Wood has exhibited widely across the UK and internationally. Their solo and group exhibitions include Yan Tan Tethera at Where The Light Gets In, Stockport (2024), SKUDDE at Village Books, Manchester (2022), and Future Proof at Street Level Photoworks, Glasgow (2017), among many others.
Their work spans photography and textile arts, with a particular focus on bookmaking and communal felting, often engaging communities through workshops and collaborative projects. Recent residencies, such as Verpėjos (The Spinners) (2024) and Shepherds Residency at Nida Art Colony (2021), reflect their ongoing exploration of rural life, sustainability, and craft traditions.
Wood has published several works, including SKUDDE in The Preserve Journal (2024) and Prawn Dumpling with Ceremony Press (2019), which are stocked by prestigious galleries and bookstores like The Photographers' Gallery in London and Open Eye Gallery in Liverpool.
Through the WAVY WOOL CLUB, she leads initiatives that share traditional wool and textile practices with urban audiences, creating a deeper understanding of the challenges faced by rural communities. Wood's work has been featured by It's Nice That, Patagonia, and The Preserve Journal, among others, and supported by grants such as the 2021 Lawson Park Commission and Arts Council England’s Developing Your Creative Practice fund.
Kat Wood's work delves into the political history and cultural dynamics of rural communities, particularly emphasising their deep connections to the natural environment. Through a mixture of research and artistic practice, she explores the interwoven narratives that shape rural identities, traditions, and everyday life.
Farming and shepherding, especially in hill farming regions, are seen not merely as occupations but as acts of cultural and environmental engagement, constantly adapting to local and global pressures. Through her photographic books, installations, and collaborative projects, she sheds light on the resilience, creativity, and profound bond farmers share with the land.
Having grown up on a hill farm in the north of England, Wood's practice challenges the common assumption that farming is inherently affluent. She aims to give voice to the many farms that struggle to survive without government subsidies, highlighting how the rise of factory farming, high costs of land and machinery, and unstable incomes render farming financially precarious. Many farmers rely on universal income or secondary employment to sustain their livelihoods.
Wood's work brings these rural stories into focus, advocating for policies that support the sustainability and long-term autonomy of farming communities. Through the WAVY WOOL CLUB, she bridges the gap between urban and rural communities by sharing traditional skills with urban audiences, revealing the challenges farmers face, and creating additional income streams for farmers while fostering a direct connection between these two worlds.
