Catherine MacDiarmid

Expert tutor

For many of us Catherine is probably most well known for having appeared on Sky Arts Portrait Artist of the Year in 2014 and 2018, reaching the semi-finals in 2019. However, she has been exhibiting widely for many years, including being selected for the prestigious BP Portrait Award 2001 and 2002, where her work is included in the first ‘500 Portraits’, a book by the National Portrait Gallery, 2011.

Catherine has won many awards including the Case Art Prize at the 2022 Royal Institute of Painters in Watercolour, and the Alec Morrison Watercolour Prize at the 2020 Royal Birmingham Society of Artists Prize Exhibition. Her work is collected nationally and internationally.

Working mainly in oils, watercolour and charcoal, Catherine takes inspiration from the people around her, often focusing on expression, gesture and movement.

Her portraits are honest studies, where self reflection and meticulous detail take precedent over flattery and outward beauty. Catherine explores the social and isolated aspects of life, reflecting on the awkwardness of exposure, attention and scrutiny attracted through being in the public eye.

Catherine has won various awards including the Pegasus Art Prize in Artist and Illustrators Artist of the Year 2017, the Alec Morrison Watercolour Award 2020 and second prize in the Royal Birmingham Society of Artists in 2016, and first prize in the Brewery Open 2002, amongst others.

Catherine is a member of the Lakes Artists Society, the Contemporary British Portrait Painters and is founder member of Green Door Artists in Kendal and South Lakes.

Catherine has a wealth of teaching experience, including teaching at various art societies, the Abbot Hall Museum, and currently teaching at Brewery Arts Centre, and High Hall.