Cathy Messina holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from the College of William and Mary, where she was arts editor of the student newspaper. She also has taken art and design courses from George Mason University, the George Washington University, the Art League of Alexandria, Virginia, and the Fechin Art Workshops in San Cristobal, New Mexico. While pursuing a career in publishing and consulting, she has generated commercial illustrations, graphic designs, and photography. In the late 1990s, she began to create pieces of fine art as well, working in watercolor, acrylic, and oil paints. Most of her recent paintings have been in acrylic, which she admires for both its versatility and its lack of toxicity. Her paintings have been accepted into many juried shows, including those sponsored by the Springfield Art Guild, the Art League, and Del Ray Artisans.