Born in a small mission village in the Central Province of Papua Niugini, educated in Australia immersed in Australian, Papuan and Torres Strait Islander culture, she went on to marry her High School sweetheart, Inverness born Rory MacLeod, and they now live in Dingwall.
The artist and illustrator remains hugely inspired by carved story boards, which communicate heritage via art, and her peoples sacred and traditional ways of life, which still follow the rhythms of nature. Her journey then found her captivated by the contrasting landscapes and strange creatures of her new home, in particular our coastlines and the Caledonian Forest.
These experiences led Cathy to create a series of contemporary artworks, and her exhibition, ‘The Land, The Sea and My People’, ran in 2022 at the Alchemist Gallery, Dingwall.
Designs and patterns, such as repeating shark’s tooth, basket weave and spear point, express shared humanity between her Papuan heritage and the Scottish Highlands.