Cher Pruys was born in Regina. Over the years she lived in many places including Saskatoon, Calgary, Edmonton, Ottawa, Fort Frances, settling into her present home in Devlin, on the banks of the Rainy River with her husband Mark, 4 dogs and 2 cats.
By age three, Cher was seldom found without a drawing tool in hand. She worked in pencil, charcoal and ink over the years, until she picked up a paintbrush at the age of 35. Beginning with oil paints, she found her chosen mediums in acrylic, watercolor and gouache.
Although self-taught, her dedication and talent has seen her work juried into 513 International exhibits, as well as exhibits in numerous non juried shows. She has garnished 789 awards thus far. She was the first recipient of a major Canadian National Award, The Mary Pratt Crystal Award of Excellence at the 2014 SCA Open Juried Exhibition, The SCA 1st place award of distinction twice respectively, 2016, and 2017 at The Canada’s 150 show. The SCA 2nd place Award of Distinction in the 2021 Elected Members Show. The winner of the Biafarin/SCA Award of Excellence at the 2022 Elected Members Show. October 2021 Winner of The Exclusive Harmony of The Arts Contest by The Blue Blood Gallery in Prague. The Gold Medal recipient for Figurative Painting in The Mondial Art Academia’s International 2018 Competition. The Silver Medal for Portrait Painting in The 2020 International Art Professional World Art Acadamia Competition. The Aviation Week & Space Technology Award Best of the Best, and the ASAA Award of Distinction for the best painting in the ASAA International Space & Technology Exhibit & Competition, consecutively for 2 years. In 2020 & 2021 & 2023 she was awarded with the most wins in The American Art International Awards. The Grand Prize Winner in The AWA (American Women Artists) 2022 Spring Online Show with a perfect score for “In Retrospect”. 2nd place in the AAPL elected Members online show 2022, Award of Distinction in the 2023 Pushing Forward Reaching Back Show, and a 3rd place in the NOAPS Spring Online Artist Members Show. 2023 saw her win the Gold Medal of honour at the Allied Artists of Americas 110th show! She has had 22 solo exhibits. Cher is also an avid fused glass artist, and a certified teacher of piano and guitar. Her painting "The Bubble" had the honour of being part of the Masterworks from The International Guild of Realism Tour. Her work has graced the covers of 3 books, 37 magazines, including The Best Of Acrylic Fall 2021, cover of May Arabella Magazine with “In Retrospect”, the cover of #20 Hyperrealism Magazine with “Girls Girls Girls”, #21 Hyperrealism Magazine with “The Young Cowboy”, and the most recent, the cover of the March Artists & Illustrators Art magazine, and has been featured in over 365 international publications. Cher’s works
have found a permanent home in private and public collections worldwide.
ARTIST’S STATEMENT
Cher Pruys, ASAA SCA, IGOR, AAPL, CSAA, AMS, LMS, OSA, MAA, CFA, NOAPS, PSOA, AWA, AAOA.
"To take my inner visions with my hands and create a work of art for you the viewer .... That is the ultimate in self-expression."
