Her art career includes studying at the Art Center School of Design and Chouinards School of Fine Arts in Los Angeles. She completed two years of nursing training and is a government appointed Tattoo Shop/Health Inspector.

Over the years Kate has appeared on the Today Show, The Tonight Show, Prime Time Access, numerous documentaries on the Travel Channel, Discovery Channel and TBS. In 1972 she co-produced the contemporary section of the Museum of American Folk Art's "Tattoo!" exhibition in New York City.

Her award-winning work has appeared in all major tattoo magazines, she also writes for Skin & Ink magazine and is a regular columnist. She has lectured before MENSA, the Rotary Club, many civic organizations, and was a featured panelist at the International Women's Leadership Conference at Columbia University.

In 2006 Kate spoke on a panel in Lincoln Center in NYC -- and on September 5, 2008, Kate will host an evening at Buffalo, NY, Albright Knox Museum. She is a member of the US Contingent going to China in October, 2008

Kate was the first female American tattoo artist to travel and work solo in Europe (for the year of 1979). She is invited to high profile conventions around the world and regularly can be seen at the Mad Hatters, New York Tattoo Convention, National Tattoo Conventions and others. Kate has been a member of the National Tattoo Association since 1994.

What's in a name? She calls herself K8. Her last name is Dutch, Hellenbrand, which translates to Hell (Hellen) and Fire (Brand).