Cathy was born in Brisbane Australia and some of her earliest memories are of playing in the sand at her mother’s feet while she painted seascapes. Yearly caravanning holidays along the East coast of Australia instilled in her a love of shorelines and a passion for photographing and painting them.

Her move to the Otago Peninsula near Dunedin in New Zealand came after biennial visits for the last 15 years when she and her husband Alex swapped houses with various residents for several weeks in the summer. Returning to the heat of Australia became less and less appealing until in December 2005, they found the perfect home overlooking Otago Harbour at Company Bay on the Otago Peninsula. Renovation of an old garage on the site allowed Cathy to realize her long held dream of opening her own gallery. Work is now painting for Cathy and framing for Alex, in between running Arts Content B and B or working in their huge garden.

Cathy finds the Otago Peninsula an inspiration to her painting.
‘If I never painted anything but the Peninsula I would never run out of subjects. It is just one of the most stunningly beautiful places on earth. After 2 years living here I still have to pinch myself to believe how lucky I am when I look out the window of my studio at the ever changing harbour view and Dunedin in the background.’

One of Cathy’s passions is the wildlife of the Peninsula, with albatross, penguins, seals and sea lions frequently represented in her work. She is a volunteer for the Yellow Eyed Penguin Trust and she and Alex are wardens one night a week during the summer for the Little Blue Penguins which come ashore at the end of the Peninsula and are often in danger of being loved to death by tourists.

Cathy’s artistic style could best be described as enhanced reality with an emphasis on the vibrant colour that pastels achieve so well. Her painting style is relaxing and liveable with no hidden messages. My works reflect my love and respect for the beauty of our world and painting them keeps me relaxed and sane.’ Cathy is a member of the Otago Art Society, the Open Arts group on the peninsula and the New Zealand Pastel Society Cathy’s work is represented in private collections all over the world.

Cathy and Alex welcome visitors to Arts Content Gallery 7 days a week from 10 till dark. Their gallery is easy to locate as it is on the corner of the road which leads up hill to Larnach Castle in Company Bay with easy parking. Visitors are welcome to wander in their lovely garden.