About Chezza

Cheryl, AKA "Chezza", lives in Melbourne, Australia with her husband Greg, known affectionately as "Greggie Bear", and their two little terriers Puki and Rusty. Cheryl was Born in Christchurch but lived mainly in Dunedin, on New Zealand's South Island until she moved to Sydney, Australia in 1968.

Cheryl's interest in all things artistic have always been part of her life, and coming from a very creative family she dreamed of attending Art School but instead became a fully qualified florist. Twelve years in this role gave her a sound understanding of composition and colour arrangement. Over the ensuing years Cheryl explored a variety of different career paths including, window dressing, running and cooking in her own restaurant, natural therapies, therapeutic massage and color coordinating for home interiors. She also completed several different painting and drawing classes including a Diploma in Practical Art however she always felt a somewhat frustrated artist who hadn't found her niche in life.

After living in Sydney for 16 years she decided to move back to New Zealand where she settled in Auckland. In 1987 she moved to Melbourne with Greg and it was here, she spotted some very early Folk Art painted in the Bauernmalarei style and decided she would like to learn this style of painting. She took lessons and a year later started to teach and develop her own style of painting including experimenting with the development of the fur technique for her mohair bears. Although designing and painting bears are one of her favorite things, she loves painting in a variety of different styles. Some years ago Cheryl designed and had manufactured the "Chezza B " lidded palette which at first she thought would be used mainly by herself, her students and painting friends, however it proved to be such a success it is now sold in many other countries.

Cheryl has had many of her painting projects published in the popular Australian "Folk Art and Decorative Painting" magazine, bear making magazine "Bear Creations", "Handmade" magazine and in the US "Paintworks" magazine. She has also had five books published by Viking Folk Art Publications, featuring her mohair style bears. Her first book Chezza's Bears was published in 1999 and her fifth book Teddy Treasures which was CO-written with Debbie Cole and Debbie Mitchell was published in June 2003.

Cheryl feels extremely blessed that she has finally found her niche in life. To teach and pass on to others what one has learned on this journey of Folk and Decorative Art is one of Cheryl greatest pleasures. She has met the most wonderful people and made many lifelong friends of whom she is deeply appreciative of the part each one of them have played in her life. Her decision to leave her job and make painting and teaching her full time career proved to be the best decision she ever made. The rest is history.