Cat Northfield Cardiganshire, United Kingdom

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Cat is a visual artist based in Mid-Wales, UK. Cat won joint-third prize in the Gwenllian Ashley Art Prize 2024 with her artwork ‘Evolution Revolution’. She was awarded Student of the Year, and gained a distinction in the Foundation Diploma in Art & Design at Coleg Ceredigion in 2024. Cat went on to study classical oil painting under acclaimed artist Louis Smith.

I’m a visual artist working mainly in oil paint and charcoal, with a focus on portraiture and the figure. My practice explores ideas of transformation, contrast and interior states—often drawing on mythological or psychological themes. I’m especially interested in reinterpreting classical myths, particularly female figures like Medusa or Circe, and exploring how their stories can be seen in new ways.

I’m inspired by flights of fancy, narrative, contrast and tension. My paintings often bring together recognisable figures or faces with unexpected objects, spaces or moods, allowing for multiple readings.

Charcoal and oil paint are my preferred materials because of the control and expressiveness they allow. I build paintings slowly in layers, often working on aluminium composite panels or wood, which suit the detailed, surface-focused nature of my process. While I lean towards traditional materials, I also enjoy experimenting.

Right now, I’m developing a new body of work focused on reimagined myths and psychological portraiture, as part of an evolving inquiry into identity, memory, and transformation.