Cecily’s artistic potential was recognised at an early age through the winning of an art prize with her first painting. Her parents encouraged her by sending her to an art tutor and later she was honoured to receive some training at East Sydney Technical College from the Arts Council in Casino, her childhood home, where she was well known as an artist.
Her artistic work began in clothing design. Having parents in the clothing business, she opened her own small clothing design factory at 18 and was successful in selling her designs to outlets between Brisbane and Sydney and some in substantial quantities to large wholesalers. Contingent with this she completed a BA in Behavioural Science. Subsequently her entrepreneurial skills led her to work in senior marketing positions in Sydney. In the 1980’s she moved from Sydney to the Sunshine Coast and opened her own clothing design shops under her label Cecily’s.
In 2004 she returned to art, experimenting with styles and subjects but always tending towards organic forms and particularly florals. Her current body of work reveals the development of her own style and techniques for creating these large floral works. They are unique in the way in which the work is structured with design and aesthetics being a paramount consideration. Cecily paints every day and sees her work continually evolving as she perfects her skill in creating these high impact works.
“I make art because flowers make my heart sing and I am entranced by the magical intricate beauty and harmonies that exist in the fine details within nature. My work is conceived to uplift the viewer, it is intensely focused and very time consuming. I work from living flowers and I try breathe life into the work.”
Viewers are invited to sink into the work like a meditation and open their heart to the beauty and life energy within the bloom. These paintings offer peace, tranquillity and joy.
“There is no pretension in her work, she isn’t making an argument or pushing a position – her work is pure, it comes from absolute love and contentment, and it invites you into that contentment, as though you could sink into the petals like a soft mattress and sleep the unburdened sleep of the innocent. Her work brings out the magic of the everyday.” Adam Slade, Opening “Magic Happens” Exhibition
“My paintings are built from many layers of transparent oil paint, each one adding luminosity to the work. Strong contrasts, vibrant pure transparent colour, intense detail and nuances of tone and light are a strong feature of my work. Also present is a strong passion for good design as the basic structure on which the work is conceived.
These works are statement pieces, they command a space and create an atmosphere of tranquillity and harmony in the environment in which they exist.
Awards and Recognition
2019 :
Special Merit Award Certificate All Women Open Category Light Space & Time Gallery for “Lilac Embrace”
Honourable Mention Certificate All Women Open Category Light Space & Time Gallery for “Sunburst”
Special Mention Certificate Artmaster Australia International for “Lilac Embrace”
2nd Prize Artmaster Australia International Still Life for “Reverie”
Achievement Award Artform Artmaster Australia International for “Reverie”
Special Merit Award – “Unbridled Happiness” 2019 Botanicals Light Space & Time Gallery
Special Merit Award – “Scintillation” 2019 Botanicals Light Space & Time Gallery
Special Recognition – “Like Gossamer Wings” 2019 Botanicals Light Space & Time Gallery
2nd Prize – “Luminescent” – Exhibition of Excellence Flora and Fauna 2019
Honourable Mention Certificate – “Reverie” – All Women Open Category Light Space & Time Gallery
Finalist 2015/16/17/18/19 Rotary Art Spectacular
2018 :
Finalist Moreton Bay Regional Art Award
Special Merit Award – “Breath of Angels” Botanicals Light Space & Time Gallery
Special Merit Award – “Grace” Botanicals Light Space and Time Online Gallery
Special Merit Award – “Luscious” Botanicals Light Space & Time Gallery
Special Merit Award – “My Blue Heaven” Botanicals Light Space &Time Gallery
2017 :
Finalist Milburn Prize Institute of Art
2016 :
Winner 2nd prize Australian Artist Magazine March Edition 2016
Finalist Lethbridge 10000 2016
Highly Commended Kenilworth Art Show Workshop Participants
2015 :
Finalist Australian Artist Magazine Still Life and Florals June 2015
2014 :
Finalist in the Lethbridge 10000 Art Award 2014
First Prize Still Life and Florals Redcliffe Show 2014
Exhibitions
2019/2020 – St Vincent’s Private Hospital Northside, July to January
2019 Joint Exhibition Percolator Gallery May/ June
2019 Exhibition Redcliffe Gallery Public space featured artist February
2018 – WOW Exhibition Gallery 6/31 Bowen Hills, November
2018 – Window Display Moreton Bay Regional Gallery, September
2018 – Exhibition St Vincent’s Hospital Palliative Care, July to December
2018 – Exhibition ‘Magic Happens’, Old Fire Station Gallery, Redcliffe, June/July
2017 – Exhibition with Martin Galleries Pop up Shop, Sandgate, Christmas
2016 – Invitation Solo Exhibition, Lift Gallery, Maleny, March/April
Artist Biography
Cecily’s artistic potential was recognised at an early age through the winning of an art prize with her first painting. Her parents encouraged her by sending her to an art tutor and later she was honoured to receive some training at East Sydney Technical College from the Arts Council in Casino, her childhood home, where she was well known as an artist.
Her artistic work began in clothing design. Having parents in the clothing business, she opened her own small clothing design factory at 18 and was successful in selling her designs to outlets between Brisbane and Sydney and some in substantial quantities to large wholesalers. Contingent with this she completed a BA in Behavioural Science. Subsequently her entrepreneurial skills led her to work in senior marketing positions in Sydney. In the 1980’s she moved from Sydney to the Sunshine Coast and opened her own clothing design shops under her label Cecily’s.
In 2004 she returned to art, experimenting with styles and subjects but always tending towards organic forms and particularly florals. Her current body of work reveals the development of her own style and techniques for creating these large floral works. They are unique in the way in which the work is structured with design and aesthetics being a paramount consideration. Cecily paints every day and sees her work continually evolving as she perfects her skill in creating these high impact works.
“I make art because flowers make my heart sing and I am entranced by the magical intricate beauty and harmonies that exist in the fine details within nature. My work is conceived to uplift the viewer, it is intensely focused and very time consuming. I work from living flowers and I try breathe life into the work.”
Viewers are invited to sink into the work like a meditation and open their heart to the beauty and life energy within the bloom. These paintings offer peace, tranquillity and joy.
“There is no pretension in her work, she isn’t making an argument or pushing a position – her work is pure, it comes from absolute love and contentment, and it invites you into that contentment, as though you could sink into the petals like a soft mattress and sleep the unburdened sleep of the innocent. Her work brings out the magic of the everyday.” Adam Slade, Opening “Magic Happens” Exhibition
“My paintings are built from many layers of transparent oil paint, each one adding luminosity to the work. Strong contrasts, vibrant pure transparent colour, intense detail and nuances of tone and light are a strong feature of my work. Also present is a strong passion for good design as the basic structure on which the work is conceived.
These works are statement pieces, they command a space and create an atmosphere of tranquillity and harmony in the environment in which they exist.
Awards and Recognition
2019 :
Special Merit Award Certificate All Women Open Category Light Space & Time Gallery for “Lilac Embrace”
Honourable Mention Certificate All Women Open Category Light Space & Time Gallery for “Sunburst”
Special Mention Certificate Artmaster Australia International for “Lilac Embrace”
2nd Prize Artmaster Australia International Still Life for “Reverie”
Achievement Award Artform Artmaster Australia International for “Reverie”
Special Merit Award – “Unbridled Happiness” 2019 Botanicals Light Space & Time Gallery
Special Merit Award – “Scintillation” 2019 Botanicals Light Space & Time Gallery
Special Recognition – “Like Gossamer Wings” 2019 Botanicals Light Space & Time Gallery
2nd Prize – “Luminescent” – Exhibition of Excellence Flora and Fauna 2019
Honourable Mention Certificate – “Reverie” – All Women Open Category Light Space & Time Gallery
Finalist 2015/16/17/18/19 Rotary Art Spectacular
2018 :
Finalist Moreton Bay Regional Art Award
Special Merit Award – “Breath of Angels” Botanicals Light Space & Time Gallery
Special Merit Award – “Grace” Botanicals Light Space and Time Online Gallery
Special Merit Award – “Luscious” Botanicals Light Space & Time Gallery
Special Merit Award – “My Blue Heaven” Botanicals Light Space &Time Gallery
2017 :
Finalist Milburn Prize Institute of Art
2016 :
Winner 2nd prize Australian Artist Magazine March Edition 2016
Finalist Lethbridge 10000 2016
Highly Commended Kenilworth Art Show Workshop Participants
2015 :
Finalist Australian Artist Magazine Still Life and Florals June 2015
2014 :
Finalist in the Lethbridge 10000 Art Award 2014
First Prize Still Life and Florals Redcliffe Show 2014
Exhibitions
2019/2020 – St Vincent’s Private Hospital Northside, July to January
2019 Joint Exhibition Percolator Gallery May/ June
2019 Exhibition Redcliffe Gallery Public space featured artist February
2018 – WOW Exhibition Gallery 6/31 Bowen Hills, November
2018 – Window Display Moreton Bay Regional Gallery, September
2018 – Exhibition St Vincent’s Hospital Palliative Care, July to December
2018 – Exhibition ‘Magic Happens’, Old Fire Station Gallery, Redcliffe, June/July
2017 – Exhibition with Martin Galleries Pop up Shop, Sandgate, Christmas
2016 – Invitation Solo Exhibition, Lift Gallery, Maleny, March/April