Polish to English Translation for Literature, the Arts and Academia
I’m Kate Webster, a professional freelance translator, editor and subtitler based in London, UK. I translate from Polish into English, specialising in literature, the arts and academia. My translations have been nominated for prestigious awards including the International Booker Prize and the Oxford-Weidenfeld Prize.
With a keen eye for detail and expert knowledge in my specialist subject areas, I work closely with clients – many of whom are in the creative sectors – to transform Polish texts into faultless, engaging English, enabling effective communication with readers on a global scale. You can learn more about my experience and qualifications below.
Feel free to contact me with the details of your project, even if it doesn’t fall within my areas of specialisation. If I’m not the best person for the job, I’ll do my best to recommend a skilled and trusted colleague.
To find out what clients have said about my work, see my testimonials.
About me
I am a native English speaker from the UK, based in London. In 2012, while living in Poland, I set up as a freelance linguist and I’ve been perfecting my translation skills and developing my specialist knowledge ever since.
I have an MA in Economy, State and Society in Eastern Europe from UCL (2015, Distinction) and a BA in Linguistics from the University of Manchester (2006, 1st Class).
In 2018 I was awarded a six-month mentoring placement with Antonia Lloyd-Jones as part of the Emerging Translator Mentorship programme organised by the National Centre for Writing.
My translation of White Nights by Urszula Honek (2023, MTO Press) was longlisted for the International Booker Prize 2024. In 2023, I was shortlisted for the Oxford-Weidenfeld Prize for my translation of The Map by Barbara Sadurska (2022, Terra Librorum). Other published translations include short stories by Marta Kisiel (2020), Krzysztof Kieślowski (2021), and Joanna Rudniańska (2019). You can find more examples of my work on the websites of Przekrój, Eurozine, Switch (On Paper) and ANMLY.
I am a qualified Member of the Institute of Translation and Interpreting (ITI) and a Member of the Society of Authors and the UK Translators Association. I engage in regular CPD activities to keep up to date in my specialist fields and hone my translation and language skills. I also volunteer as a mentor for colleagues within the ITI’s Polish Network.
Testimonials
Contact
To receive a quote, or for more information on the services I provide, please contact me by email: kate@webster-translations.com
