Catherine McWilliams graduated from Belfast College of Art and has been exhibiting since 1961.
From 1964 she combined painting with teaching until 1990. In 1986 she opened the Cavehill Gallery with Joseph McWilliams where she exhibits regularly with other invited artists.
She also exhibits regularly with the Hayward Gallery, Dublin and has participated in many group shows in London and abroad. Her work is represented in the National Self Portrait Collection, Limerick, Arts Council of Northern Ireland, B.B.C., N.I. Guardian Insurances, Ireland, N.I. Civil Service Collection, The Haverty Trust, Unison N.I. & U.K. Her forthcoming retrospective exhibition, in September 2004 at the Naughton Gallery, Q.U.B. will comprise a selection of paintings and drawings from 1961-2004 and will be accompanied by an illustrated catalogue.