Cheri Mathys - Artist

Portrait and interview - 1994

(In Cheri's own words) - Colour, pattern, texture involved by responses to ‘nature en largesse’ has influenced Cheri’s life and work.  She is excited by a variety of interests from astrophysics to archaeology; ethnic minority cultures to complimentary medicine; environmental issues to property restoration; and gardening to hair colouring.  With many careers tried, through the growth and awareness of time, she rests at present in sculpture using found objects, painting, photography and permaculture philosophy.  Drawing and painting from early childhood, it was not until her three children were single-parented out into the world, that she completed a Fine Art Degree at Exeter with which, coupled with various teaching experience, she hopes to run courses in the near future.

She is probably best known for her colourful flower paintings and monoprints which she has exhibited in London, Bristol and the West Country; some of which are held in private collections as far away as South Africa, Russia and North America.

It is her love of travel to the point of obsession, that inspires ideas and the networking of friends.  She refers to her friends as flowers she needs to tend and be tended by.  Friends refer to her as a butterfly which suits her sensitive and free art work and lifestyle, responding to the sun or rain in her Cancerian Leo rising moods.  Somewhere, probably from her Hungarian gypsy princess background is the constant tug of gypsy and lady; freedom and security; wildness and order; fury and silence; country house and wooden caravan/boat; partner and aloneness.

Totnes was ‘home’ when she arrived twelve years ago knowing nobody yet connecting on another level with many other women and artists, all of them single and intending to improve each other’s lives: the place being an amazing centre or ‘nest’ for damaged, sensitive souls.  She, along with many of her friends is a counsellor/therapist but, aware of this leaning, chose self-employment of more earthy means such as creative utilitarian recycling in the bio-region ethic of World Gaia Consciousness, her most practical means of loving and helping this beautiful, yet abused planet to restoration, knowing that the human soul needs to love and be loved by the nature outside of him/herself as well as vice versa.

Update:  Not Known