Cathy Lorraway

Cathy Lorraway Biography

Cathy's paintings are inspired by her love of the outdoors and travel, especially the beauty of the Canadian landscape. While painting plein air she fell in love with the vivid colours of pastels. "I try to express my emotional response to the sights and sounds of nature by using media, like pastels in a loose, gestural way to transport the viewer to my sensory memory of a place. I enjoy the plein air challenge: quickly portraying changing lighting conditions and cloud patterns while battling Mother Nature." Cathy combines pastel plein air painting with studio time using pastels, acrylics and oils. She enjoys experimenting with different styles, processes, colour schemes, grounds and underpaintings. She is an elected member of the Society of Canadian Artists and Colour and Form Society and has been honoured to participate in national and local juried shows earning Pastel Artist Canada (PAC) Signature status.

In addition to focusing on her paintings, commissions and family, Cathy enjoys teaching pastel workshops and volunteering. After three decades teaching secondary school art and photography, she now focuses on instructing local art communities such as the Dundas Valley School of Art, Burlington Fine Art Association, Port Colborne Art Club and recently at ICAN the Pastel Artists Canada national conference. She enjoys connecting with kindred spirits in her local art communities as well as helping to curate and hang exhibitions and as an art juror.

A lifelong learner, she is a graduate of the Ontario College of Art Drawing and Painting program (A.O.C.A. and BFA), the University of Toronto (BEd.), University of Ottawa (B.A. English), and has enjoyed taking courses at the Dundas Valley School of Art as well as learning at local and online conventions. Her award-winning paintings have found homes in Canada, the United States and Australia.