Painter and teacher, born in Plymouth, Devon, who graduated with honours in fine art from Solihull College, 1995–7, gaining her master’s from Central St Martins College of Art and Design, 1998–9. She taught on the degree course at Solihull College, also being a visiting teacher at Camberwell Art College and Acland Burghley School. McCoy in 2001 was winner of The Centre of Attention Painting Prize and was commended at the RWA Open Painting Exhibition, in 2002 gaining a Woo Charitable Foundation Arts Bursary. Her work, which gained wide art press and newspaper coverage, was featured in many group shows, including Secret Lives, Axiom Arts Centre, Cheltenham, 1999; BP Portrait Award, National Portrait Gallery and Aberdeen Art Gallery, 2000; Christmas Show, Mark Jason Fine Art, 2002; and Lexmark European Art Prize, Eyestorm Gallery, 2003.