cornelia macintyre was born in honolulu, hawaii on january 31, 1909. she began her art training under the first art instructor the university of hawaii, huc-mazelet luquiens (1881–1961). foley continued her art education at the university of washington, and spent two years in london at the slade school of art as a pupil of henry tonks (1862–1937). from london, she returned to hawaii, where she studied with madge tennent from 1934 to 1937 and subsequently married lieutenant paul foley (who became a rear admiral in the united states navy). during 1937–1941, the couple lived in long beach, ca and in seattle, washington in 1941–1942. cornelia foley died january 18, 2010 in severna park, maryland.