Kathleen Tonnesen (14 July, 1963) is a Canadian self-taught painter (signed as Katon), sculptor, author, poet, and inventor. She was born in Cape Town, South Africa (Kathleen Peers), and immigrated to Canada in 1998. Kathleen holds a Bachelor of Arts, Psychology degree from Thompson Rivers University, British Columbia, Canada. She has carved a professional career as a working artist since 1990 and is a respected international artist dedicated to the enhancement of public spaces with meaningful and thought provoking art. Kathleen is a Shodan (1st degree black belt) in Yoshinkan Aikido who has trained with several leading Aikido teachers in British Columbia. With a background in Early Childhood Education, psychology and acting, she strives to connect families and communities together through the language of art and martial arts. Her passion is children and unleashing the child within the adult, thereby encouraging personal growth. Kathleen is dedicated to inspiring the human spirit.