About the Artist

Katherine Leathers is an award winning artist who is a resident of Miami, Florida.

Katherine enjoys painting scenes from South Florida. Katherine has been exploring the effects of sunlight on the plants of South Florida.

Katherine Leathers began her artistic journey as a child as a student in Miami, Florida. Katherine learned to love the tropical flowers and foliage of Florida. She was always interested in art and sought opportunities to engage in artistic pursuits that included embroidery, needlepoint,  crochet, calligraphy, and photography .

Katherine graduated from Florida Atlantic University with a degree in Elementary Education. She continued her studies at the University of Miami and graduated with a Masters of Science in Education Degree and a Doctor of Education Degree.

For over thirty-seven years, Katherine Leathers was an elementary school teacher in  Miami-Dade County Public Schools.  Katherine also taught teacher education classes at Florida International University, St. Thomas University, and Carlos Albizu University.

Katherine is a member of the educational organization Alpha Delta Kappa since 1988. From 2018-2020, Katherine served as president of her Alpha Delta Kappa Chapter, Florida Chi. From 2020-2024, Katherine was recording secretary of the same organization.

From 2004-2020, Katherine volunteered with the  Boy Scouts of America as a Pack Secretary then as an Assistant Scoutmaster, Merit Badge Counselor, and Charter Organization Representative. 

In 2014, Katherine continued her artistic journey with her retirement, and was able to pursue her love of watercolors full time. Katherine began her studies of watercolor painting at Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden with watercolor artists:

Hillary Parker, Dorothy Green, Ricardo Alberle, and Diane Lary.

In 2015, Katherine joined Miami Watercolor Society and began attending the monthly meetings. and monthly workshops.

In 2018, Katherine was awarded Signature Membership with the Miami Watercolor Society. From 2016-2022, Katherine served as Miami Watercolor Society, Recording Secretary.

Since 2015, Katherine has taken watercolor workshops with the following award winning artists:

Eric Wiegardt, Janet Rogers, Vladislav Yeliseyev, Don Taylor, Iain Stewart, Soon Warren, Anne Abgott, and Judy Saltzman.

In 2019, Katherine taught a four week basic watercolor class, "Watercolor and the Word", at Old Cutler Presbyterian Church, Miami, Florida. In 2021, Katherine presented a basic watercolor power point, to the members of the Florida Chi Chapter of Alpha Delta Kappa.

In 2019, an image from my Watercolor Painting, "Coconut Grove Coconuts", was  selected for the "Welcome to the Members’ Page",

of the Miami Watercolor Society Website and this image was also selected for inclusion in the 2020 Miami Watercolor Society Brochure.

In 2023, Katherine served as  2nd VP for the Florida Watercolor Society. On February 26, 2023, Katherine presented a Web Cast, "Artistic Insights", sponsored by the Florida Watercolor Society. In 2024,Katherine became 1st VP of Florida Watercolor Society. In 2025, Katherine will become Florida Watercolor Society President. Katherine was awarded signature membership status of Florida Watercolor Society.

Awards and Achievements

Judges Award, “Everglades, River of Grass IV”,  Miami Watercolor Society,  2025 Fall Exhibition.

First Place, “Everglades, River of Grass”, Gold Coast Watercolor Society, 2024 Fall Exhibition, "Art on Fire"

Signature Award, "Everglades, River of Grass", Miami Watercolor Society, 2024 Spring Exhibition

Best in Show, " Wild Coffee III", Miami Watercolor Society, 2023 Fall Exhibition

Third Place,  "Palm Lights V", Florida Watercolor Society, 2023 Online Exhibition

Third Place, "Golden Coconuts", Miami Watercolor Society, 2022 Fall Exhibition 

Third Place, "Palm Lights III", Gold Coast Watercolor Society, 2023 Exhibition

Third Place, "Palm Lights", Miami Watercolor Society, 2022 Spring Exhibition

Third Place, "Mangroves III",  Gold Coast Watercolor Society, 2021 Fall Exhibition, "Art on Fire"

Rosa G. Martinez Memorial Award,  "Wild Coffee",  Miami Watercolor Society,  2021 Fall Exhibition

Merit Award,  "Mangroves III",   Miami Watercolor Society,  2021 Spring Exhibition 

Signature Award, "Mangrove Lights", Miami Watercolor Society,  2020 Fall Exhibition 

Watercolor Society Memberships

American Watercolor Society

Florida Watercolor Society, Signature Membership 2024

Gold Coast Watercolor Society

Miami Watercolor Society, Signature Membership 2018

Katherine Leathers invites you to visit her website and view her paintings.