At the opening of my exhibition at Latrobe Regional Gallery in 2011.
About Cheryl
I am a figurative narrative painter. My art practice is concerned with spirituality, rebirth, true love, peace, compassion and harmony for all beings set in a dream Australian Arcadia. The narrative is told throughpersonal mythology.
To reach a synthesis between all levels of my work it is layered in concept, subject matter and materials /process. Expression is given to these layers through the psychological, metaphysical, mythological/ theological and scientific.
For all of my life I have had intense sensitivity. Since 2000 when I had my accident I have, experienced physical pain. Yet the intentionality of my art practice has remained in that I still want to convey peace and harmony. When the Dalai Lama spoke in Melbourne in 2009 he reiterated, "Without inner peace how can we can have world peace." I seek to portray peace and beauty in my art making.
The female figure representing my species and myself defines the narrative. Sentient and non-sentient beings, their birthplaces of shells and plants, belong to the cosmos as a garden is used to explore aspects of the narrative. While winged beings represent the union of ocean and sky especially the ecstatic and celestial. Pablo Neruda's poetry of birds infuses my imagination.
| 2012 | Master of Visual Arts, Monash University (GCAD) |
| 1983 | Graduate Diploma in Fine Art, Monash University |
| 1981 | Graduate Diploma in Education, University of Melbourne |
| 1980 | Diploma Art & Design, Monash University |
Solo Exhbitions
| 2016 | Connection, Steps Gallery Carlton |
| 2014 | The Lyceum Club Melbourne |
| 2013 | Latrobe Regional Gallery, Morwell. Mornington Peninsula Regional Gallery |
| 2012 | Arc Yinnar, Gippsland |
| 2006 | Sacred Moon Gallery,Deans Marsh |
| 2005 | The Lyceum Club, Melbourne |
| 2004 | Smyrnios Gallery, Prahran |
| 1998 | The Lyceum Club, Melbourne |
| 1997 | Rickett’s Point Tea House, Beaumaris |
| 1996 | Margaret Coxall Gallery, Williamstown |
| 1995 | Kate’s Off Chapel Gallery, Prahran . Toorak South Yarra Library, Toorak |
| 1994 | Reflections Gallery, Canterbury |
| 1993 | The Old Melbourne Gaol, Melbourne |
| 1992 | Qdos Gallery, Lorne “No Vacancy – Temporary Gallery” Melbourne City Council Swan Hill Regional Art Gallery Reflections Gallery, Canterbury |
| 1991 | Grant Street Theatre, South Melbourne Della Butcher Gallery, Singapore Reflections Gallery, Canterbury The Lyceum Club Melbourne |
| 1990 | Reflections Gallery, Canterbury |
| 1985 | Excelsior Gallery, Sydney Brighton City Library |
| 1984 | Eurospace, Brighton |
| 1983 | Niagara Galleries, Richmond The Lyceum Club Melbourne |
| 1982 | Drummond Street Gallery, Carlton |
Selected Group Exhbitions
| 2014 | Mornington Peninsula Council |
| 1982 – 2013 | The Lyceum Club, Melbourne |
| 2011 | Qdos Gallery, Lorne |
| 1997 | World in a Matchbox ’97 Grand Central Art, Melbourne The Embellished Egg Mornington Peninsula Regional Gallery |
| 1995 | Women on the Walls, Mornington Peninsula Regional Gallery Daffodil Day Exhibition, Melbourne Central, Anti Cancer Council |
| 1993, 1991, 1990, 1989 |
Swan Hill Regional Gallery, Reflections Gallery, Canterbury |
| 1991, 1992, 1990 |
International Women’s Day Exhibition, The Women’s Gallery, Fitzroy The Castlemaine Festival Drawing Prize, Castlemaine Regional Gallery Qdos Gallery, Lorne |
| 1987 – 1991 | The Print Guild, Melbourne |
| 1985 | Hogarth Gallery, Sydney |
| 1984 | Mornington Peninsula Regional Art Gallery Print Prize Exhibition |
| 1981 – 1983 | Touring exhibition of prints, Scottish Art School Galleries and also to San Francisco Bay Area University, exchange exhibition |
| 1982 | Post Graduate Students, Victorian College of the Arts Andrew and Lillian Pederson Memorial Print Award Brisbane Art Gallery |
| 1981 | “Moving On” CIT Gallery, Monash University |
| 2003 | Spinifex Press Window Design for Cat Tales. The Meaning of Cats in Women’s Lives. A Girl’s Best Friend, and The Meaning of Dog’s in Women’s Lives. |
| 1992 | RSPCA Casa Award for Best Oil Painting |
| 1985 | Villa Décor Award for Print Making |
| 1984 | Yarra Valley Grammar School Print Prize |
| 1982 | Inez Hutchison Award |
| 1982 | Sheila Kirk Award for Drawing, Flinders Art Exhibition |
| 1980 | Arches Rives Acquisitive Award |
Publications
| 2012 | Embracing the healing powers of art, Melody Song, Morwell & Churchill Advertiser, March Artist celebrates masters, Morwell & Churchill Advertiser, October |
| 2006 | Reflections of a busy life, Cinnamon Stephens, Surf Coast Echo, January |
| 2004 | Horse Dreams, The meaning of Horses in Women Lives, Spinifex Press |
| 2003 | Cat Tales. The Meaning of Cats in Women’s Lives. Spinifex Press. |
| 1995 | The Encyclopedia of Acrylic Painting Techniques, French Edition, New Birmingham Books, UK - cover: Fluorescent Zebras |
| 1994 | The Encyclopedia of Acrylic Painting Techniques, English Edition, New Birmingham Books, UK |
| 1993 | Marmalade’s Book of Cats Australian Writing and Art, Marmalade Press The Artful Kitten, a tribute with 60 portraits by Honor Head, New Birmingham Books, UK |
| 1992 | Adlib Magazine Singapore November |
| 1991 | Ita Magazine November issue Australian Artist “Mixed Media Techniques”, December Directory of Women Artists Max Germaine |
| 1985 | Australian Artist September issue, (Ginger Lily Lithograph cover) |
| 1982 | Directory of Australian Print Makers, Print Council of Victoria |
| 1989 | Artists and Galleries of Australia, Max Germaine, Author |
Collections
| Wesley College Collection Monash University Collection Department of Education, Employment & Training Bayside City Council Datacraft Australia IBM Melbourne Girls’ Grammar Collection The Lyceum Club, Melbourne Yarra Valley Anglican School |