A graduate of NC State’s College of Design, Nancy was a graphic designer for many years before becoming a full time artist. A North Carolina native, she enjoys time spent both in the Triangle area and at her waterway condo at Sunset Beach, near her hometown Tabor City. Her love of nature, especially the coast, inspires Nancy to paint. Featured in her oil paintings are rare, unspoiled vistas of deserted beaches, tranquil marshes, colorful seas and vast skies. Working from observation, imagination and memory, Nancy explores color and light, shapes and forms to create her contemporary landscapes. And though derived from familiar places, her paintings are not of a specific location but an impression of everyday nature — where the colors of sky, earth and water converge on the horizon.
I'm fortunate to spend time at Sunset Beach, near my hometown in southeastern North Carolina. This cherished place holds many memories for me and its beauty feeds my spirit. As I walk the beach, kayak the marsh and watch the sky, I find inspiration for my paintings.
about my art
fragile, threatened, inspiring
fragile, threatened, inspiring
fragile, threatened, inspiring
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. I love to paint the wetlands, where the water rises and falls with the tides. I pay homage to the fragile marsh ecosystem of the barrier islands, now particularly threatened by climate change and overdevelopment.
the sky and clouds
fragile, threatened, inspiring
fragile, threatened, inspiring
I get a serenity from looking up at the sky and I’m inspired to express this in my art. 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.
the moon
fragile, threatened, inspiring
memories of the beach
When the full moon is rising, I feel optimism, hope and inspiration. With the big sky views of the beach, I can observe its beauty and power up close. The high tides are amplified and the magical light, not obstructed by trees, glows for hours on a clear night. The moon is a constant reminder that we dwell in a universe of wonder.
memories of the beach
memories of the beach
memories of the beach
I hope my art connects with people and evokes fond memories of a family beach trip. Families have traditions around visiting the beach — some rent the same cottage the same summer week at the same coastal community for years and years. I've heard my art takes them back to special times and places — a reminder of being carefree and relaxed.
scenes from long ago
memories of the beach
scenes from long ago
Only through my imagination are most of my paintings possible. I hope I'll always find inspiration in the world we have now. 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.
the marsh and mood
memories of the beach
scenes from long ago
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. I have a love for 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.