About Me
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. 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. Her painting Taeniophyllum cylindrocentrum was commissioned and is held in the permanent collection of the CSIRO. She also has a painting in the Florilegium of the Royal Botanic Gardens Edinburgh. She is a member of the Botanical Art Society of Australia (BASA) and the American Society of Botanical Artists (ASBA).
Solo Exhibitions
2024 Solo exhibition "A Charm of Native Bees" Australian National Botanic Gardens, Canberra
2019 Solo exhibition “Earthly Treasures of our Shire”, The Q Exhibition Space, Queanbeyan
2017 Solo Exhibition - "Botanical Capital" Watercolours telling stories of Canberra's landscape history
Awards/Achievements
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
2019 Designed major artwork for the NSW Biodiversity Conservation Trust
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
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
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
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 1st place “Fruit and vegetable” section – Botanical Art Society of Australia member’s exhibition
2006 3rd place “Still Life” section – ASOC members’ exhibition
2006 2nd place “Still Life” section – ASOC members’ exhibition
2006 Painting of Satsuma Plum chosen to be signature painting for Canberra Botanical 2006 exhibition