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Born with a degenerative hip disease, Ann Brannon Cockerill spent much time in body casts as a child. God has a way of turning bad things into blessings though. It was during these times, that she developed her imagination and learned how to paint and draw. She found that although her body was imprisoned her mind through art could be set free. By the age of seven she was already selling her paintings in her father’s lumber supply store in Austell.
At sixteen she worked for DeVant Crissey in Marietta restoring 19th to 20th century paintings, and learning old master techniques.
She graduated cum laude with a degree in art at the age of 19 from LaGrange College and was listed in Who’s Who of American Colleges and Universities.
In 1973, Ann married Bill Cockerill and in 1975 they started The Red Cockerill Gallery in Austell Ga. Framing, art, portraits, art classes, and Bill’s pottery helped the business to thrive. In 1987 their beloved daughter, Emily, was born. They raised her on 18 beautiful acres calling it “Beulah Land”. It’s waterfalls, huge granite rocks, mountain laurel, lady slippers, and kudzu were constant sources of inspiration for her paintings. In 1994, she began painting abroad and fell in love with France and Italy and Greece. In 2005, Ann had a hip replacement that has given her a new lease on life.
