I have lived with cats all my life, and have always been drawn to their individuality, sense of independence, and quiet expressiveness.
My love for cats began even before I was born, with my parents’ cat regularly resting on my mother’s baby bump, soothing me with the sound of his purring.
At the age of three, when asked what I wanted to be when I grew up, my answer was, “A cat!” While that ambition proved unrealistic, the desire to understand and connect with cats never left me.
Cats have been constant companions throughout my life, including two who were by my side for nearly two decades. Living with them has shaped the way I see and understand cats, and how deeply their lives are intertwined with ours.
My work combines photography and mixed media painting (digital and acrylic) to create portraits shaped by each cat’s unique “purrsonality.” Every portrait begins with time spent learning about the cat—through observation, conversation, and photography—so that the final piece reflects not only what they look like, but who they are.
At the heart of my work is the simple belief that:
Cats are family, too.
Brenda Scott is a photographer and mixed media artist based in Durham, North Carolina, and also available for commissions in Southern Delaware. She holds a degree in photography, and her work is shaped by both formal training and a lifelong relationship with cats.