About Cathy Whittall

I studied art and photography at St Helens College of Art and Design in the 1980's. I then had a career in commerce, had three children and moved around the country with my husbands work. Sadly in 2014 my eldest son Zach was killed as he left the Olive Branch in Clipsham where he worked as a chef. Our worlds fell apart, I didn't sleep, eat, could not think properly or continue with my career. I returned to my love of painting, the first being the kingfisher in flight, full or iridescent colours that I found comforting. Keeping busy doing what I loved helped me through each day. In 2019 I started painting large scale oil portraits of mothers that have lost. Capturing sadness of mums whilst talking about the child they had lost.