Largely self-taught, Cristina completed a year-long postgraduate course with the Royal Drawing School in 2022. Over the last few years, Celestini has regularly exhibited at the Mall Galleries in London; she has had work selected for major group shows and national competitions, including the Ruth Borchard self-portrait prize, the Derwent Art Prize, the Royal West of England Academy’s juried exhibitions and the ING Discerning Eye.

Recently featured on Sky Portrait Artist of the Year, Celestini has had work acquired by the New Art Gallery in Walsall for their permanent collection. She has also completed numerous private commissions, including portraits, and enjoys working with a range of clients.

Education: 

Rome University, Modern Languages MA, 1986

Part time Foundation degree, Birmingham School of Art, Bournville Campus (unfinished)1999

Royal Drawing School Postgraduate course 2022

Group and Solo Exhibitions:

2026 Selected exhibitions

Portrait Prize, Royal Birmingham Society of Artists, Birmingham

Derwent Art prize at OXO Tower, London

Society of Fine and Graphic art, Mall Galleries, London

Pastel Society, Mall Gallery London

2025 Selected exhibitions

Royal Society of Portrait Painters, Drawing prize at University of Hull Art Gallery

ING Discerning eye exhibition  at Mall Galleries 

Summer Exhibition Royal west of England Academy, Bristol

Ruth Borchard self-portrait prize, long-listed

Society of Women Artists at mall Galleries, London

Drawing (paper) show Bridewell galleries for Liverpool Biennale, Liverpool

Drawing Prize Royal Birmingham Society of Artists, Birmingham

Long-listed Jackson’s Art prize

Pastel Society, Mall Gallery London

Works on Paper Royal West of England Academy, Bristol

Society of Fine and Graphic art, Mall Galleries, London

2024

Guilford House Open, Guilford

Invited to Platform Project with Studio22 group, Athens

Selected for the Women in Art Fair during London Frieze week

Society of Women Artists at mall Galleries, London

Group Exhibition Courtney Gallery, Ashbourne, Derbyshire

Society of Women Artists at Mall Galleries, London

Equal&Able. Ableism in Art: Project working with The New Art Gallery Walsall

Drawing Open at No format Gallery, London

Derwent Art prize at OXO Tower, London

Society of Graphic and Fine art at Mall Galleries London

Pastel Society at Mall Galleries London, 

 2023

Group exhibition the Gallery at Holt

Royal West of England Academy Juried exhibition, Bristol

Well Art Contemporary, Wells Cathedral 

Juried Exhibition "Drawing paper Show" at Bridewell Studios, Liverpool 

Pastel Society at mall Galleries, London

Society of Women Artists at mall Galleries, London

Group exhibition with Studio22 and The Royal Drawing School at the Gallery at Green and Stone

Society of Graphic and Fine art at Mall Galleries London

2022

Completed Royal Drawing School Postgraduate Course

Shortlisted for the ING Discerning Eye Drawing Bursary

Participant in Sky Art Portrait Artist of the Year - portrait selected by model, guitarist Phil Manzanera

Leamington SPA Museum and Art Gallery

Frontier art fair with the Studio_22 Artist Cooperative

Summer show at The Gallery at Green and Stone, London

Pastel Society at Mall Gallery London

Society of Fine and Graphic Art at Mall Gallery London 

West Midlands Open Exhibition at New Art Gallery Walsall

‘Twenty Twenty’ permanent collection exhibited at the New Art Gallery Walsall

 2021

ING Discerning eye Exhibition, Mall galleries London

Society Colour Pencil UK, OXO tower London.

Society of Women Artists - On line

Drawing acquired by the New Art Gallery Walsall for their permanent collection

Society of Graphic Fine Art at Mall galleries

Pastel Society at Mall Galleries London, 

Call to Artists IKON Gallery, Birmingham

2020

Elected Associate member at Society of Graphic Fine Art

Prize exhibition Royal Birmingham Society of Artists

Royal Birmingham Society of Artists

Society of Graphic Fine Art at Mall Galleries London

(Exhibition cancelled due to Covid-19)

2019

Society of Graphic Fine Art. Mernier Gallery London

Society of Women Artists Mall Gallery London

Bath Society of Artists, Victoria Art Gallery, Bath

Solo exhibition ground floor at Royal Birmingham Society of Artists, Birmingham

Leamington SPA Art Gallery and Museum, Leamington. Judges’ commendation

Pastel Society, Mall Gallery, London

The Herbert, Coventry Museum and Art Gallery, Coventry

Rugby Museum and Art Gallery, Rugby

2018 Selected exhibitions

Elected full member of Royal Birmingham Society of Artists

Selected Exhibitions

Birmingham Circle Art Society, Birmingham. President Prize winner

Society of Graphic Fine Art, Mernier Gallery, London

Society of Women Artists Mall Gallery, London

Royal Birmingham Society of Artists, Birmingham

2017- 2016 Selected Exhibitions

Group exhibition, Rye Gallery, Rye

Group Exhibition, Artist Workhouse Gallery, Studley. Featured artist
Portrait Prize Exhibition,

Royal Birmingham Society of Artists, Birmingham 

Coventry OPEN at the Herbert Gallery, Coventry Museum and Art Gallery, Coventry. Visitors’ choice