I grew up as a small-town girl in the rural foothills of upstate South Carolina, where the natural world became my sanctuary and inspiration. My childhood was spent on horseback, exploring the ridges and valleys near my parents' farm. Riding alone, just me and my horse, I developed a deep connection to the landscape—the towering trees, the spring-fed creeks, the boulders, and the ferns that reached up to my shoulders. I reveled in the warmth of the sun on my face, the fresh scent of the woods after a rain, and the quiet crunch of snow beneath my horse’s hooves on a crisp winter morning.

The silence of the mountains, punctuated only by the sounds of nature—birds calling, leaves rustling in the breeze, the rhythmic clatter of my horse’s shoes on the rocks—became a symphony of tranquility. These moments were my introduction to the beauty of God’s creation, and they have profoundly influenced my work as an artist. The gentle rustle of grass, the creaking of trees swaying in the wind, and the quiet strength of the mountains shaped my appreciation for the natural world and continue to inspire my art today.

My high school years were busy and full of new experiences. I was a cheerleader, a beauty queen, and recognized as the most talented in my class for my artistic abilities. My journey took me to Atlanta, where I studied interior design at Bauder College and pursued a modeling career. Though it may sound glamorous, it was a challenging time—long hours, little sleep, and balancing the demands of school and work. During this period, I represented my hometown in the South Carolina pageant, an experience that was both thrilling and overwhelming. Public speaking and reaching out to the community helped me build confidence, but I longed for the simplicity of life on the farm, surrounded by animals and the mountains I loved.

When the time came to make a choice, I returned home. I worked for Duke Energy as a public greeter at their new visitor center on Lake Keowee, where I met people from all over the world. It was during this time that I reconnected with an old classmate who would become my husband, Bobby. Together, we navigated the challenges of young adulthood, building our American dream. Bobby worked long hours to establish himself in the family business, while I became a stay-at-home mom, raising our two beautiful daughters. Those years were filled with learning, growing, and building a home where our girls could thrive.

After eight years of marriage, we returned to my roots, to the mountains I loved. We built a home and embraced farm life. My business man of a husband took to it with enthusiasm, spending his days off building fences and clearing pasture land. Our daughters grew up with farm chores, horses, goats, and cows—everything I cherished about rural life. We lived fully, raising and training quarter horses, and teaching Western pleasure horseback riding, all while I continued to paint. Life was beautiful.

But as all parents know, little girls grow up. Our daughters went off to college and started families of their own, and soon, we became grandparents. In my fifties, I found myself alone on the farm. The physical demands of training young horses and maintaining the farm were becoming more challenging, so I turned my focus more fully to painting. My love for art had always been a constant companion, whether I was riding during the day or painting late into the night.

Eventually, the kitchen, dining room, and bedroom were overflowing with art supplies, leaving little space for anything else. That’s when we decided to rent an old store in town and move my art studio there. What started as a personal retreat quickly evolved into something more—people began drifting in, asking for art lessons. Our first class was painting on a flower pot, and 24 years later, The Farmhouse Gallery still going strong, offered art classes to students of all ages and hosting art shows across the state and neighboring regions.

With Bobby leading the way, we traveled to two- and three-day art festivals, making friends with other artists and their families. During this time, I also became an artist for the South Carolina Heritage Corridor, a wonderful opportunity to showcase my art statewide. Yet, through all of this, the farm remained my happy place.

Now, at 73, I’m not ready to give up neither my horses or my art. My studio stands next to the horse barn, a testament to the life we’ve built—a life that blends the best of both worlds. I’m filling our landscape with beautiful flowers, creating a space where family, friends, and the public can gather and enjoy the beauty that surrounds us. My life is full—sometimes hectic, but mostly joyful.

Bobby and I feel incredibly blessed to live here, watching our children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren enjoy the farm that has given us so much. My hope is to share the peace and beauty that God has allowed me to experience, through both the farm and my art. My prayer is that my work will touch the lives of others, revealing the beauty that only God can create.