Karen has shown excellence in a range of creative arts since winning local and state awards all four years of high school in two dimensional and jewelry design. She graduated at the top of her class and went on to graduate Magna Cum Laude from the University of Akron (OH) in 1980 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Graphic Design. She worked at several advertising agencies in Akron while attending University. While there, she won several awards for her designs from Akron and Ohio advertising organizations.

1980-1988 worked as the Art Director/Creative Director in Tampa and St. Petersburg FL ad agencies before moving to the Research Triangle Park area of NC where she won several awards from Raleigh advertising organizations.

1985 started her own company, "Uniquely Yours, Karen Despot", through which she became a freelance artist and a wedding/evening gown couturier. In 1990 she moved to Martinsville, VA and added mural and scenic furniture painting to her services. She continued to develop additional expertise in doll making, portrait painting, seamstress, fiber art, and painting services. She became a licensed k-12 art teacher, teaching middle school art from 2001-2005. In 2005 she opened de Spot LLC, a gallery, to promote local, regional, and national artists while bringing more recognition to her artworks. She is currently sole owner/manager of de Spot, specializing as a portrait and mural artist. She recently illustrated a children's book, "That's My Hope", written by Lil Ingram and Marlene Lee.

A sampling of the many awards she has recently won would include:
1997 - Merit Award and People's Choice Award in Foot of Hills art show
1997 - St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Award in Girl Scouting
2000 - Juried acceptance in Hoffman Challenge international competition
2001 - First Place in Hoffman Challenge, wearable art
2002 - Curator's Choice in Hoffman Challenge, wearable art
2003 - Received a grant from the Virginia Commission for the Arts for photography. Very well received and copied several years by Piedmont Arts Association.
2004 - First Place in Expressions art show, 3-D
2007 - Created the award presented by Martinsville/Henry County Economic Development Council to the Martinsville Speedway recognizing their 60th anniversary.
2009 - First Place in Expressions art show, 2-D oil

She has always been active in the community in which she lives. During her first year of teaching, she had her students create and sell flag pins, raising over $800 for the American Red Cross. She has also been active with:

Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Pinellas County, FL
Akron Jaycees Auxiliary, OH
Garden Study Club of Martinsville, VA
St. Joseph Catholic Church Parish Council and Building Committee chairperson for the design and construction of a new church building.
PTO's of Druid Hills Elementary and Albert Harris Intermediate schools - fundraising chair
Virginia Footills Quilters Guild
Lynwood Artists
Piedmont Arts Association Board of Directors
Colored Pencil Society of America
Portrait Society of America

What makes Karen unusual is her multi-disciplinary expertise. She is equally skilled as a seamstress, a portrait painter, mural designer and painter, furniture design painter, jewelry designer and maker, wedding planner (including designing and creating the gowns of the bride and wedding party), graphic designer, and art instructor.

Her interest in the arts has been life-long and varied, she has produced and taught, and opened the first gallery in the area to showcase and promote local artists.