Cathy Whittall

Cathy Whittall is a British illustrator, artist, and graphic designer based in Worcestershire, UK. Her work moves fluidly between digital illustration, watercolour, and oil painting, combining a passion for vibrant wildlife, botanical forms, expressive portraiture, and architectural detail. Her creative journey began with a Foundation in Art and Photography at St Helens College of Art and Design in 1984. Since then, she has exhibited her work at venues across the North West and East Midlands and continues to reach audiences worldwide through online galleries and collections. Cathy's artistic practice is both deeply personal and far-reaching. Over the years, she has completed numerous private commissions in oils, watercolours, and digital illustration, working closely with clients to create meaningful Personal Tragedy In 2014, Cathy experienced a profound personal tragedy when her eldest son, Zachary, was killed as he left work at the Olive Branch Restaurant in Clipsham, Rutland. This devastating loss would come to influence the emotional depth and direction of her artistic work. County Court Trial In 2016 during the County Court Trial surrounding Zach's death, drawing became a source of stability and healing. The illustration of a vivid kingfisher - capturing a moment of stillness, focus, and beauty - marked a significant turning point, reaffirming the role of creativity as both refuge and expression. Portraits of Loss In 2019, Cathy developed a powerful body of large-scale portraiture, creating 5 ft × 4 ft oil paintings on canvas informed by personal interviews and photographic studies. These works explore themes of loss, resilience, remembrance, and transformation, reflecting her enduring interest in the strength of the human spirit. One of these large-scale oil portraits is now part of the collection at Standard Chartered Bank in Hong Kong.