Ann Cockerill first discovered the wonders of painting at the age of 4.  A native of Georgia, she was born and raised in Cobb County.  Born with a degenerative hip disease, she 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.
Ann was commissioned by the State of Georgia to paint James Ogelthorpe, Thomas Jefferson, George Washington and Marquis de LaFayette life size portraits for the newly remodeled “Old Capitol” in Milledgeville. Her painting of Kennesaw Mountain was included in the “Spirit of America Exhibition from Winslow Homer to Andrew Wyeth,” and toured the nation's museums. She has won numerous awards including Best of Show at the Spirit de France Arts Festival at Chateau Elan in Braselton GA, First Place at the North Wildwood Beach NJ Art Exhibition, and she was presented with the Winsor Newton First Place Painting Award of the International Art Show of New Jersey. Her painting was chosen for the Atlanta Dogwood Festivals Fine Art Poster Competition in Atlanta.  Recent awards include 'Best of Show' at the Ellijay Apple Festival, the SCAA's Sweetwater Valley Art & Crafts Festival, Douglas Days.  She was awarded the 18th Annual Miniature Art Show of NJ., the Sweetwater Fever Arts & Crafts Festival, the 'Off the Square' Art Show in Carrollton, the Cedar Valley Arts Festival, and the Cave Springs Art & Craft Festival.

Ann's paintings were selected for inclusion in the Georgia Watercolor Society Exhibition and the Tallahassee Watercolor Society Exhibition. Her paintings are in private and corporate collections throughout the world.