Austell Art Gallery Holding Its Own Since 1975

The Red Cockerill Gallery is housed in a building erected in 1960 by the gallery owner’s father and was originally used as a real estate and home construction services office. It is a familiar landmark to longtime residents of the Austell community.

Over the course of time, this building would come to be a local veterinarian's office and eventually the home and business location of gallery owners, Ann and Bill Cockerill.

Mrs. Cockerill, came to love art at an early age due to a degenerative hip disease that kept her in a body cast or wheelchair for extended periods of time during her early childhood.

 “I remember when I was 3 years old, my mother would put blank paper on the walls so I could paint and draw because I couldn’t get out and run around with other kids,” Mrs. Cockerill said.

Over the years and after numerous surgeries to correct her hip displacement, Mrs. Cockerill  decided to attend LaGrange College where she majored in art and eventually met her husband, Bill.

“After graduation my husband worked for my father building houses. During that time we lived in the building my father had built in 1960,” Mrs. Cockerill said.

While working at his father-in-law’s business, Mr. Cockerill became a consummate woodcrafter. With Mr. Cockerill’s new-found talent and Mrs. Cockerill’s expertise in the art field, the couple decided to open an art and framing gallery in their own home.

“We lived on one side the house and the gallery and frame shop was on the other side,” she said.

“It was a big leap of faith," said Mrs. Cockerill, who was only 19 years old when she and her husband started the business.

Mrs. Cockerill continues to hone her artistic skills by  participating in yearly art study programs abroad, which she's done since 1994. In 2004, Cockerill studied under the award-winning and world renowned artist Robert Meredith.

Mrs. Cockerill has earned her own share of awards and recognition, like in 2001 when her original painting was chosen to be used as commemorative poster for the Atlanta Dogwood Festival, which sold the posters to fund the following year’s festival.

Additionally, four of Cockerill’s other original paintings are on permanent display in the Old Capital Museum in Milledgeville, and the list goes on and on.

Mr. Cockerill, who studied under the late, local resident and nationally known pottery artist Karen Beswick, has won his own share of awards for creativity and style.

“Unfortunately during a bad economy it’s the artistic and creative ventures that suffer the most,” Mrs. Cockerill said.

To counter this drop in demand, she decided to start offering art classes at the gallery which have proved to be quite successful. Beginning in June, Mrs. Cockerill will be adding art classes for children as well.

This skilled artistsan will also compose personalized portraits for customers of themselves, their pets, homes and landscapes, or just about any other request they may have.

After beginning her business at 19 and riding out the rough waves of entrepreneurship, she has these words for other aspiring business owners, "You have to listen to your inner voice and sometimes take a leap of faith.”