Art and nature have been a constant influence in my life from a very young age. I studied Natural Science Illustration and Children’s Book Illustration at Rhode Island School of Design, and have a BS in Animal Science from the University of Vermont.  At the age of 13 I made my first pet portrait, a colored pencil drawing of our two Labradors, as a gift to my sister. Since then I have created many others for friends and family, and have been doing so professionally since 2007. I choose to paint animal portraits because it allows me to explore the color and texture of my favorite subjects, and produce one-of-a-kind memories that my clients will enjoy forever.