about
Nancy Hughes Miller
Inspired by beauty in the landscape, I seek a bold yet quiet impression of everyday nature — as the colors of sky, earth and water converge on the horizon.
I grew up in Tabor City, a small town in southeastern North Carolina, 33 miles from the coast. The rural public school I attended offered no art instruction, so as a kid I was drawing and coloring on my own, thus beginning my artist's journey.
Seeking a creative career path, I was fortunate to attend NC State's School of Design. There I thrived, exposed to both design and fine art fundamentals, studying drawing, photography and art history. After graduation, I worked as a graphic designer for more than 25 years, but in 2007 I switched gears and became a full-time artist. Painting workshops, practice, experimentation, and trial and error helped me get to this point.
I call North Carolina's Triangle area home but spend much time at Sunset Beach, near my hometown. The fragile beauty of this coastal area inspires my paintings — though my art is not about a specific place but an impression of everyday nature. Magnificent sunrises, sunsets and colors of the seasons provide infinite possibilities to portray in the sky and landscape. I paint from observation, memory and imagination, exploring color and light to create an image from my heart.
Inspiration for my oil paintings comes from my love of nature — especially the coast.
more about my art
scenes from long ago
scenes from long ago
scenes from long ago
Unspoiled, desolate beaches were the norm before cars, high-rise bridges, condos and homes packed the ocean-sides with people. When I paint I feel I'm recreating scenes from long ago — rare and endangered landscapes with nothing man-made imposing on the view. Only through my imagination are most of my paintings possible. I hope I'll always find inspiration in the world we have now.
the sky and clouds
scenes from long ago
scenes from long ago
The landscape is not just what I focus on with my paintings. The sky and clouds can be dominant in my compositions and I challenge myself to depict them realistically — in a unique way. I get a serenity from looking up at the sky and I’m inspired to express this in my art. Sometimes it feels like I’m painting clouds over and over again, but as I do, I know I’m honing my skills. With so much artistic license allowed, it’s fun to work at getting something both ethereal and ephemeral!
the marsh and mood
scenes from long ago
memories of the beach
I hope my scenes of inlet waters winding to the ocean or those with large clouds on the horizon are a calming influence on the viewer. As a North Carolina landscape artist, I have a love for my state's barrier islands— but not just for their sandy beaches. To me, relaxing and soothing to view are their tidal, salt marshes separating the islands from the mainland. I find them especially inspiring in mid-summer, when the marsh grass turns brilliant yellow-green. I feature this chartreuse-like color in many of my marsh paintings, combined with varying colors in the sky and water.
memories of the beach
fragile, resilient, inspiring
memories of the beach
I hope my art connects with people and evokes fond memories of a family beach vacation. Families have traditions around their annual week at the beach — they rent the same cottage the same summer week at the same coastal community for years and years. Some say my art takes them back to special times and places — a reminder of being carefree and relaxed.
fragile, resilient, inspiring
fragile, resilient, inspiring
fragile, resilient, inspiring
I love to paint the wetlands, where the water rises and falls with the tides. I pay homage to the fragile yet resilient marsh ecosystem of the barrier islands. The marsh provides habitat for fish and birds, it buffers the mainland from storm surges, filters downstream pollution and is a place of inspiring beauty.
giving back
fragile, resilient, inspiring
fragile, resilient, inspiring
As a way of giving back to my community, I have donated many paintings over the years. Some of the non-profits I've supported include Raleigh's Artspace and Visual Art Exchange, Cary Visual Art, Alzheimer's Association of Eastern NC, Veteran's Project Coming Home, Habitat for Humanity-Orange County, The North Carolina Museum of Art, Wake County SPCA, NCSU Vet School, Cary Academy, Durham Academy, Hospice of Wake County, Durham Art Guild, Prevent Child Abuse NC, Raleigh's Alley Cats Feline Rescue Group and UNC Children’s Hospital.