Catherine Fridey was born in France, but raised near Chicago. She has lived in Albuquerque for several years. She has always had a special fondness for Medieval and Renaissance Art, and feels they still generate strong emotions from people with themes that transcend time. Her "illuminated fantasies" are a personal interpretation of that art in a more Impressionistic manner. She paints illuminated letters in acrylic and watercolor as well as larger oil paintings. She also enjoys doing watercolors of birds, butterflies, and flowers, which also show up in the borders of her larger works