Catherine McVean Artist

Catherine is a professional artist best known for her still life oil paintings which she describes as quiet celebrations of everyday life. Catherine chooses to pair seasonal items with objects from her home; either treasured pieces she has collected over time or objects chosen for their own beauty, shape and texture.

Close observation and accurate drawing is central to Catherine’s work. Alongside this is a fascination with colour; both the design and placement of colours in a composition and the study and mixing of colours on her palette. Catherine loves to explore the interaction of colour; how different colours work together both in a painting and in life.

Catherine is primarily self taught but has taken a number of short courses at Heatherleys School of Fine Art, London Art College and Central St Martins. Since 2020 she has been Shortlisted for both the British Art Prize and Women in Art Prize and Longlisted for the Jackson’s Art Prize. Catherine regularly shows work in a number of galleries across the UK.

Catherine started her career as a strategy and business consultant working in London, Brussels and Oman. Over the past 15 years, she has lived in the UK, Oman and New Zealand but moved back to the UK in 2020 and now paints full time from her studio in Ascot. Catherine has been teaching drawing and painting classes to adults since 2019. 

Upcoming / current exhibitions and events

  • Russell Gallery Mixed Summer Exhibition, Putney, London, 25th June - 31st August 2026

Previous exhibitions / awards

Solo & Small Group Exhibitions

  • Oxmarket Contemporary, ‘In My Mind’s Eye’ Group Exhibition, 8th - 20th July 2025, Chichester

  • ‘Renewal’ | Exhibition of 6 female contemporary artists, The Art Buyer, April 2024

  • Artist in focus exhibition, New Ashgate Gallery, Farnham, March 2024

Selected Mixed Shows

  • The Art Buyer mixed shows, Bridge Road, Hampton Court (2024, 2025, 2026)

  • Russell Gallery, mixed shows, Putney London (2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2026)

  • Green & Stone Summer Exhibition, Fulham Road, London, 2025

  • Chelsea Art Society Summer Exhibition, Chelsea Old Town Hall, London, 2025

  • ‘In My Mind’s Eye’, West Horsley Place (2025, 2026)

  • AppArt (2025, 2026)

  • Art for Youth, Mall Galleries London (2023, 2024)

  • Bath Society of Artists Annual Open Exhibition, Victoria Art Gallery, 2022

Awards & nominations

  • Shortlisted for The Women in Art Prize 2023

  • Longlisted for the The Holly Bush Emerging Woman Painter Prize 2022

  • Longlisted for the Jacksons Painting Prize 2022

  • Shortlisted for the British Art Prize 2021 and part of the virtual exhibition, Summer 2021

  • Finalist in the Broadway Arts Festival Open Art Competition, Bretforton, 2021

Artist sketchbooks

Training

Catherine is primarily self-taught, but has taken a number of short courses including courses at Heatherleys School of Fine Art, London Art College and Central St Martins.

Previously Catherine attended St Helen & St Katharine school and Durham University where she studied BA English Literature.