Catherine Allison 

 Having drawn and  painted  for much of her time in her youth  she took up art again in retirement from teaching. This was just prior to lockdown:

“ To date I draw and paint in various mediums, oils, acrylics, watercolours, inks, and pastel crayons. Animals feature most in my work. Just as painting and sculpture cannot
rely on words or the power of speech, neither can animals. I found this to be an interesting link as a point of  departure for taking up art again”
 
"I had not produced much art at all for some years. Post retirement from teaching and lockdown re-introduced me to the opportunity to take it up again. A nearby Neighbour
– celebrated sculptor the late Stella Shawzin – was a huge encouragement. She persuaded me to renew this pastime . I owe her much after our various informal talks about art which inspired confidence to create again."

Catherine  exhibited at The Mall Gallery in London  with the Royal Society of British Artists. There she was awarded a prize,  the 2022 Geoffrey Vivis Memorial Award, for her painting  ‘Pug’.