Demo: Painting a still life in oils by Catherine McVean

Author name

Monday, 06 July, 2026, 19:15 – 21:00

Conservative Club, Long Street, Devizes SN10 1NW

Still life of a metal pitcher with two yellow pears on a white tablecloth against a gray background

Smiling person in glasses and apron, painting a clay pot at a table indoors

Based in Ascot, Catherine McVean is best known for her still life oil paintings, which she describes as quiet celebrations of everyday life. Catherine will be painting a still life composition, focusing on capturing reflections and highlights.

ABOUT THE 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. She 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 the 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 10 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.

Visit her website here.

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