Cheryl was raised on a property on the outskirts of Canberra, Australia, and developed a love of nature and art at an early age. Over the years she has undertaken studies in drawing, oils, calligraphy and photography. In 2000 Cheryl discovered her passion: botanical watercolour painting. Cheryl's style of painting has evolved over the years, and involves building up the colour in many layers of soft washes, creating an almost translucent effect. She intensifies the final painting with some darker washes and dry brush work. She particularly enjoys painting Australian natives and more recently has been focusing on threatened and endangered species. Cheryl teaches both botanical and insect illustration. Cheryl has completed numerous commissions and won several awards in recent years. Her works are held in private collections in Australia and overseas. Since 2005 she has exhibited in the renowned Botanica exhibition at the Royal Botanic Gardens in Sydney. Cheryl is an invited member of the Florilegium of the Royal Botanic Gardens Sydney with her paintings Eucalyptus tereticornis, Acacia longifolia and Tasmannia lanceolata in the permanent collection. She is a member of the Botanical Art Society of Australia (BASA) and the American Society of Botanical Artists (ASBA). Awards/Achievements 2024 Solo exhibition "A Charm of Native Bees" Australian National Botanic Gardens, Canberra 2023 Best Flora, Fauna or Still Life - Artist’s Society of Canberra (ASOC) members’ exhibition 2023 Best Miniature Painting - Artist’s Society of Canberra (ASOC) members’ exhibition 2020 Painting Eucalyptus pauciflora ssp. niphophila accepted to the Florilegium of the Royal Botanic Gardens Edinburgh 2019 Painting Acacia longifolia accepted to the Florilegium of the Royal Botanic Gardens Sydney 2019 Designed major artwork for the NSW Biodiversity Conservation Trust 2019 Solo exhibition “Earthly Treasures of our Shire”, The Q Exhibition Space, Queanbeyan 2017 1st Place "Miniature" section - Artist’s Society of Canberra (ASOC) members’ exhibition 2017 Best in Show - Wildlife and Botanical Artists Inc members’ exhibition 2017 Council Exhibition Award - Queanbeyan Art Award 2017 Solo Exhibition - "Botanical Capital" Watercolours telling stories of Canberra's landscape history 2015 Best in Show - Botanical Art Society of Australia members' exhibition 2015 Botanical Art Award - Wildlife and Botanical Artists Inc members’ annual exhibition and art prize 2015 Best Miniature in Show - Artists' Society of Canberra (ASOC) members' exhibition 2015 Painting Eucalyptus tereticornis accepted to the Florilegium of the Royal Botanic Gardens Sydney 2014 Invited to join the Florilegium Society of the Royal Botanic Gardens Sydney 2014 Best Still Life - ASOC members' exhibition 2013 3rd place “Mixed Media ” section – ASOC members’ exhibition 2013 1st place “Watercolour” section – ASOC members’ exhibition 2012 Best Flora or Fauna – ASOC members’ exhibition 2012 People's Choice Award - Wildlife and Botanical Artists Inc 10th members’ annual exhibition and art prize 2012 Dr Helen Hewson Traditional Botanical Art Award – Wildlife and Botanical Artists Inc 10th members’ annual exhibition and art prize 2011 Best Still Life – ASOC members’ exhibition 2010 Highly Commended “ Watercolour” section – ASOC members’ exhibition 2009 2nd place "Watercolour" section – Rotary Club of Queanbeyan and Art Society of Queanbeyan Outdoor Art Show 2009 Painting of Sarracenia sp. used as signature painting for Canberra Botanical 2009 exhibition 2009 1st place “Pushing the Boundaries” section – Botanical Art Society of Australia member’s exhibition 2008 2nd place “Still Life” section – ASOC members’ exhibition 2007 Dr Helen Hewson Traditional Botanical Art Award – Wildlife and Botanical Artists Inc 8th members’ annual exhibition and art prize 2007 Highly Commended “Fruit and vegetable” section – Botanical Art Society of Australia member’s exhibition 2007 1st place “Fruit and vegetable” section – Botanical Art Society of Australia member’s exhibition 2006 Highly Commended “Transparent Watercolour” section – ASOC members’ exhibition 2006 3rd place “Still Life” section – ASOC members’ exhibition 2006 2nd place “Still Life” section – ASOC members’ exhibition 2006 Finalist in The Australian Artist magazine art challenge “Your Favourite Subject” 2006 Painting of Satsuma Plum chosen to be signature painting for Canberra Botanical 2006 exhibition 2005 Encouragement award for botanical art – Wildlife and Botanical Artists Society (ACT) |