Kate studied paper conservation at Camberwell College of Arts, London (1984-88) specialising in the conservation of library and archives. After graduating she worked at the Royal Botanic Gardens Kew and took on the position of Senior Conservator until 1998. Since then Kate has worked for the Natural History Museum, The National Trust, the Ashmolean Museum and the Tate, as well as other UK based institutions and private studios.
Kate joined the Courtauld in 2010, initially as Assistant Conservator, to assist with a project to remount the drawings in the collection, becoming Conservator of Works on Paper in 2011.