Today we’d like to introduce you to Kate Cruickshank.
Hi Kate, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I am a Board Certified Health and Wellness Coach and Registered Nurse, that specializes in cancer support. I am also a thriving full time artist. Most recently, I have combined my two businesses to be able to provide greater support to the cancer community.
My creative journey began as a way to steady myself in the emotional intensity of caring for people during some of the most vulnerable chapters of their lives. What started as a personal outlet—something I did quietly to find balance—slowly grew into a meaningful artistic practice. Today, my butterfly originals are collected across the United States and internationally.
Baylor Scott and White Health Foundation recently commissioned me to create an original butterfly artwork for them to gift as the Circle Of Care Award to the Mary Kay Ash Foundation for their extraordinary efforts in fundraising for breast cancer research. It was presented at the Celebrating Women Luncheon on October 31, 2025 with more than 1200 people in attendance and was such an honor as an artist and cancer nurse.
The butterfly has become the heart of my work. For me, it represents hope, transformation, and the resilience I witness every day. Each butterfly I create has intentionally jagged, imperfect wings that are detailed with 18K gold ink or chrome. This is to highlight that rather than an imperfection, these jagged edges tell a story of a life well lived, challenges survived and the resilience and strength that remain.
My art is deeply tied to my mission of supporting people on a cancer journey. 100% of the profits from my fine art butterflies goes directly toward providing pro bono cancer coaching for individuals who need support. As an oncology health and wellness coach, my mission is to empower, support and educate. No one should have to navigate cancer alone.
One of my greatest hopes is to see my original butterfly pieces displayed in cancer clinics and infusion centers across the country, offering comfort, encouragement, and a sense of possibility to patients and families sitting in those rooms.
Beyond my artwork and coaching, I partner with companies and corporations to provide health and wellness education, emotional support, and tools that help employees navigate stress, illness, and life’s challenges with more clarity and resilience.
Through everything I create and everything I offer, my purpose is the same: to remind people that fragility and strength can coexist—and that, just like the butterfly, each of us has the capacity for profound and extraordinary transformation.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
The road from full time critical care and oncology nurse to full time artist and independent nurse coach has been a steep learning curve but one that has ignited my passion for connection to community and the care I give.
Stepping away from a safe job and income to create something that currently does not exist, with no financial support was a huge risk. Whilst working in a very busy oncology infusion clinic a saw first hand the need for more thorough wholistic care – the need for far greater emotional support and education – diet, exercise, stress management, fear, anxiety, understanding medical reports and what questions to ask their oncology team, how to navigate life after treatment etc etc- Nurses today are stretched thin and the pace of treatments and trying to cater to the ever increasing numbers of patients – it is impossible to cover all these needs in the short time each patient was in the clinic. I needed to create the change I wanted to see – it was time. Like any new business, raising awareness is the biggest hurdle and community support through my art makes it possible.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
As a child I spent the first formative years in Papua New Guinea – the dense jungle, huge colorful butterflies, plants and birds had a huge influence in the way I saw the world. It was wild and filled with adventure. Those memories are my happy place, my calm and they inspire my work as an artist every day.
Every butterfly I create holds an energy – a sense of peace, calm, positivity and hope.
I use alcohol inks and watercolors and my pieces are very unique. They are color saturated and vibrant and I am so overjoyed that they resonate with so many.
What sets me apart? My mission – my butterflies not only provide visual beauty, they also directly support others going through extraordinary challenges. It is what I am most proud of – Butterflies making a difference.
Is there a quality that you most attribute to your success?
Authenticity & Integrity
Pricing:
- Email for pricing on coaching and artwork
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.alchemyinks.com
- Instagram: @katecruickshankinks
- LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/kate-cruickshank-75988548
- Other: https://www.nursecoachkate.com
Image Credits
Alchemy Inks LLC
