Cathy Key 

Follow your inner moonlight, don't hide the madness.

~ Allen Ginsberg

I grew up in England and have been living and working in Canada for the past 20 years. Inspired by the great naturalists of the 19th century, I enjoy creating  large, multi-layered portraits using collage, acrylic, inks and glazes.

With a Ph.D. in Anthropology and over 30 years experience in yoga and ecstatic dance, I use my self-enquiry as the emotional impetus for my work. My paintings express the joy, vulnerability and wonder of being a conscious participant in our natural world.

Nature helps us to touch the divine. In my work, I seek to connect with the wisdom that we are a part of nature, not separate from it. Look closely and you will see plants, algae, corals and fungi play across the skin of my portraits. The effect can be quite psychedelic - not just visually but mentally. I believe that art can be a portal to other dimensions. 

Award Winning Mixed Media Artist

My work has been exhibited in numerous solo and group exhibitions. I won the "2023 People's Choice" award from the Sooke Fine Art Show and the Gold List Award from Art Market Magazine. 
 

I am continually evolving and developing as a creator. I learn something new with each painting which I can apply to the next piece. Over a decade of experimentation has led to my unique technique, where my goal is to seamlessly blend collage and acrylic paint to create pieces where it is almost impossible to tell where one medium ends and another begins. 

Certain Death

I have always been fascinated by the human experience. However, as a young adult, I kept my own emotions buttoned up. That fell apart when my husband was diagnosed with a terminal illness and I needed a more effective way to process my feelings.

As the world retreated into lockdown and our lives tumbled into chaos, I took refuge in artistic expression. My life, my heart, my future was being torn apart and yet my husband, Madhu, met the news of his death with eyes and heart wide open. His acceptance of the end, the love that emerged left me awed. 

Standing in that space of grace Madhu thrived, his body healed and the cancer fell into retreat. 

And through it all I painted. Our painful, magical, gut-wrenching  journey was spewed onto the canvas. I discovered worlds within myself, emotional depths that I still find hard to talk about.
 

Shows and Exhibitions

As a rising artist,  I feel incredibly fortunate to have garnered a following of collectors and supporters across Canada, the UK and the United States. Your support of my work means the world to me and I am deeply grateful for it. 

My work has been chosen twice for the esteemed Sidney Art Show. 

I hosted my first solo show, “Seeds of the Soul”in 2022, which featured 20 works painted through Madhu’s illness and recovery. 

In 2023 and 2024 I exhibited at the prestigious Sooke Art Show and was honored to receive the 2023 People’s Choice award for my work, “Divine Duality”. 

In April 2024 I exhibited at BC's largest Art Fair, Art Vancouver.

In October 2024 I received the Gold List Award from Art Market magazine. 

If you are interested in keeping up with my latest creations and exhibitions I invite you to sign up for my mailing list.