Professionally trained artist and art educator Cheryl Willcox was born and raised in a small country town in New South Wales, Australia. She now lives and paints on the Central Coast of NSW, where national parks, inland waterways, and the ocean converge—offering a rich tapestry of inspiration.
Drawing from her immediate environment, Cheryl finds endless subject matter in the interplay of light, colour, and atmosphere along beaches, cliffs, and lagoons. Her creative process begins with walking, observing, sketching, and photographing the landscape. These field studies help her capture the essence of a place before she returns to her studio to create layered, expressive oil paintings. It’s the vibrant colours—constantly shifting with season, weather, and time of day—that most excite her.
Cheryl studied Visual Arts at Newcastle College of Advanced Education, graduating with a Bachelor of Education in Art, and began her career in 1982 as a high school Visual Arts teacher.
In 2000, a formative experience living in China exposed her to the deep interweaving of art and daily life within another culture. On returning to Australia, her appreciation for its rugged, clean, and eternal landscapes was reignited:
“This has to be painted—and never taken for granted again.”
After raising her family, she dedicated herself fully to her art practice, refining her classical techniques at Watts Atelier in California and later training under Stefan Baumann of The Grand View TV Show.
She now works from her purpose-built studio—carved out of the lower floor of her home—a haven for both painting and teaching. This marked the beginning of a new chapter as an exhibiting artist and art mentor, inspiring others to connect with their own creative voices.
