Art and animals have been enduring passions for Catherine since childhood, and in 2021, she felt compelled to pursue art professionally. She loves painting all animals, but is especially fond of dogs, thanks to her current muse, Lewis. She endeavors to capture each animal’s personality in her work.
Catherine Purdy is a mostly self-taught artist working in watercolor and oil. She is based in Richmond, Virginia.
Want to get in touch? Email catherine@catherinepurdy.com
RESUME
Exhibitions
The Painted Safari: Tanzania, 20 Years Later, St. Catherine’s School – Richmond, VA
SOLO
2025
Blue Ridge Bugs, Birds, & Beasts, Green Spring Gardens – Alexandria, VA
2024
Creatures Great and Small, Rennolds Gallery, St. Catherine’s School – Richmond, VA
2022
JURRIED
January All Media Show, Art Works – Richmond, VA
2025
September All Media Show 2nd place, “Call of the Wild”, Art Works – Richmond, VA
2024
GROUP
Spring Has Sprung, Crossroads Art Gallery – Richmond, VA
2025
Painting Outside with Matt Lively 2.0, Glavé Kocen Petite – Richmond, VA
2024
Inside Out, VMFA Studio School Gallery, Staff Show – Richmond, VA
2023
Youth & Teen Studio Faculty Show, VMFA Westrock Art Education Center – Richmond, VA
2023
Evelyn Was Here, VMFA Studio School Gallery, curated by Dawn Flores – Richmond, VA
2022
Gallery 21, Pop-up at Uptown Gallery – Richmond, VA
2022
Recent Paintings, VMFA Studio School Gallery – Richmond, VA
2022
Group Exhibition, St. Stephen’s Church – Richmond, VA
2021
Recent Paintings, VMFA Studio School Gallery – Richmond, VA
2021
Professional Experience
Self-employed artist
2021–present
Adjunct Faculty, Youth & Adult Studio Programs, Virginia Museum of Fine Arts
2023–present
Education Event & Programs Technician, Virginia Museum of Fine Arts
2022–present
Summer Studio Technician, Virginia Museum of Fine Arts
2022
Professor of ESL, Savannah College of Art & Design
2017–2019
Adjunct Instructor, ESL, Middlebury Institute of International Studies
2016–2017
Program Educator, Children’s Museum of Richmond
2014–2015
English Teacher, Fulbright Foundation for Scholarly Exchange, Taiwan
2013–2014
Education
UX/UI Design Certificate, Flatiron School
2020
MA Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages, Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey
2017
MT Early & Elementary Education, Virginia Commonwealth University
2012
BA Art History, The University of the South
2009