Cathy Dean is a Sheffield-based painter.

Cathy was brought up in Leeds where she attended Notre Dame Grammar School. Her grandmother was a headteacher and published several books about the teaching of art to young people. In 1909 her books were published by a local Leeds firm, E.J Arnold. After years at art classes, Cathy recently inherited a set of these books and they encouraged her to go public and exhibit at the Great Sheffield Art Show in 2017.

Landscapes give Cathy joy and peace in difficult times and she wants to express that in her paintings. There is no wish to puzzle viewers - her aim is to convey delight and joy.

Cathy has worked in the public service, first at the Department of Environment in London, then at the Equal Opportunities Commission in Manchester, followed by posts at Sheffield City Council. More recently she has led the refurbishment of a major Georgian church in Sheffield that is now a successful community centre and church. Cathy also set up a development company in Sheffield to create employment on a troubled council estate.  Over 100 commercial units have now been built and the centre’s businesses employ hundreds of people. This successful development also received a prize from the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) for their most recent building. Now retired, Cathy has stayed on as Company Director on the board of Manor Development Company. She is also a volunteer fundraiser for Sheffield General Cemetery Trust and has raised funds to support the Trust for over ten years.