Growing up, I always dreamed of being creative and painting like my grandmother, who was truly gifted and talented. Her artwork inspired me from an early age. My mother nurtured that creativity by introducing me to crafts and flower arranging, even encouraging me to enter my work in local shows.

As life moved forward, family, career, and volunteering took priority. For years, the closest I came to painting was attending occasional paint nights with girlfriends.

Then in Christmas of 2019, my husband surprised me with a gift that changed everything — a certificate for art classes at Shiles Studio. Excited, curious, and a little apprehensive, I began taking classes. Although the COVID shutdown paused those lessons, it didn’t stop my creativity. I picked up my brushes again and began painting pieces for friends and family.

Eager to continue learning and experimenting with new techniques, I quickly discovered that my passion for art had only grown stronger.

My first commissioned piece was a portrait of a beloved dog. I remember the nerves — after accepting the commission, I joked that I wasn’t even sure which end of the brush to hold! In the end, the portrait was a big hit, and it gave me the confidence to keep creating.

Some of my earliest memories come from my childhood home in Connecticut, filled with adventures on and around the water. Today, living near the Chesapeake Bay fuels my love for sea life and all things nautical. The coastal lifestyle continues to inspire much of my work.

When I’m not working in my real estate business or spending time traveling, I’m creating art inspired inspired by nature and happy to make artwork that I would actually buy for myself, friends and family — my Pirate’s Treasure.