Avocado half

My art has taken a delicious new turn—playful, textural, and straight from my daily life. From my morning peanut butter toast to the chilies I grew in my garden, I’m painting what I live and love. It’s effortless, fun, and full of flavor (literally!).

Using newspaper as a backdrop adds another layer—because food isn’t just about eating; it’s about moments, stories, and the simple joys of everyday life.

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Catherine Wallace is an oil painter based near Brisbane, Australia, whose work celebrates the pleasure and beauty of everyday life. From a freshly torn croissant to garden flowers and expressive hands, her paintings invite viewers to pause and look a little closer.

Before turning to painting, Catherine owned Sticky Fingers Cake Decorating on the Gold Coast, creating intricate three-dimensional cakes. That eye for shape, texture and detail now finds expression in oils—and food remains a favourite subject, this time on canvas.

Working with a limited palette, Catherine mixes her colours to create harmony and depth. Her food paintings often pair carefully observed realism with generous palette knife texture, set against newspaper backgrounds. Familiar subjects become small stories, evoking leisurely breakfasts, shared tables and simple pleasures.

Catherine received First Place in Still Life at the 2019 d’Arcy Doyle Art Awards, following a Highly Commended award in 2018. Her paintings have found homes with collectors in Australia and overseas.