Nancy Dunlop Cawdrey

“Whatever medium I am working in, I like to mix color on the surface of the painting–giving the work more immediacy and spontaneity–what I call spirited silk painting. On silk I can really float brilliant color with spirit and gusto.”

Nancy loves color, texture and pattern. Through her pursuit for texture and passion for color, Nancy discovered the spontaneity and brilliance she could create through her silk paintings. Painting on silk is a Chinese technique that has been practiced for thousands of years. Although silk painting is now her medium of choice, she continues to explore a variety of subjects in watercolor, oil and experimental media. Though few people realize it, Nancy often employs a mixture of media in her silk paintings. Through this overlaying of various media she creates buoyant color and texture with her combination of transparent pigment and the shimmer of silk.

Painting Silk

A colorist with a strong sense of design, Nancy’s work always evokes a response, whether she is creating one of her signature western figure pieces, a breathtaking landscape, a quiet corner of Venice, or a vibrant floral.

Nancy Dunlop Cawdrey is the daughter of a retired career officer, fortunate enough to be exposed to exotic cultures throughout her childhood. In whatever country her father was stationed, Nancy immersed herself in the culture, and her affection for the arts later led her to study two years in Paris and another five years in Britain.