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I grew up in the mountains of North Carolina, near Asheville, on a mountaintop that overlooked the vibrant blues and greens of the Blue Ridge Mountains. My lifelong passion for light and landscapes—whether on the East Coast, West Coast, or in other parts of the world—stems from years of living closely with nature and experiencing its ever-changing palette of colors.

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My professional journey as an artist began with earning a BFA Degree in Graphic Arts from Auburn University. After graduating, I moved to New York City, where I spent the next two decades illustrating and writing children's books full-time for major publishers including Random House, Viking, Penguin, and Alfred A. Knopf. While most of my books are currently out of print, they can still be found on Amazon.com.

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In October 2006, I traveled to South Africa and volunteered in Cape Town with Cheetah Outreach, a non-profit cheetah conservation organization. Although I had limited time for painting during this period, I returned to the United States with a profound appreciation, respect, and love for Africa—its people, animals, and art. Afterward, I lived in the Sierra Foothills for a few years, working as a graphic designer and painting on weekends. Eventually, I returned to Asheville, North Carolina, coming full circle with a fresh palette of colors and new experiences to inspire my work.

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If you would like to view my work in person, please visit The Asheville Gallery of Art, located at 82 Patton Avenue, Asheville.