Artwork

Growing Up

I grew up in the mountains of North Carolina near Asheville, in a tiny town called Tuxedo. My younger growing-up years were spent on a mountaintop, overlooking the blues and greens of the Smoky Mountains. The love of light and landscapes –whether East coast, West coast, or around the globe – comes from a lifetime of living with nature and its colorful moods.

 

Career

My professional artistic career began with a Graphic Arts degree from Auburn University. After graduation, I moved to NYC to illustrate and write children's books for Random House, Viking/Penguin, Alfred A. Knopf, and other major publishers for the next 20 years. My books can still be found on Amazon.com.

 

South Africa and California

In October 2006 I traveled South Africa and worked as a volunteer with a cheetah conservation group, called Cheetah Outreach. I had little time for painting but came back to the US with an unrivaled appreciation, respect, and love of Africa – the people, the animals, the art. I settled in the Sierra Foothills for a few years, where I worked as a Graphic designer and weekend painter.​

 

Asheville, NC

Now I've come full circle, back to Asheville, NC, with a new palette of colors and experiences. My work can be seen locally at Red House Gallery in Black Mountain, NC, Asheville Gallery of Art (beginning October 1, 2025), and 362 Depot Street in River Arts, Asheville.