Karen is a matte painter based in Vancouver, currently working at Atomic Cartoons. Her experience in the entertainment industry spans leading a team of matte painters on a CG animated feature film in Hong Kong to art-directing music videos for local singer-songwriters.

She graduated with a first-class honours degree (GPA 4.0) in Mathematics from the University of Manchester and began her career in operations and marketing at the fast-growing tech company Uber. After two years she left to follow her true calling: art and storytelling. Largely self-taught, she has also studied with mentors including Tiffanie Mang and taken courses through Proko and Schoolism.

Outside of production, she paints environments en plein air, drawn by a deep love of colour in nature and a desire to capture its quiet beauty.

Under the illustration brand Ori Jemm (@ori.jemm.illustrations), Karen draws the everyday things she loves—sushi, coffee, and more—and collaborates with local makers such as Mami and Me in Calgary, designing patterns for baby sleepwear.