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I’ve always felt deeply rooted in Eastern North Carolina. I grew up here, spending my summers along the Crystal Coast and the rest of my childhood surrounded by animals, nature, and plenty of opportunities to create. Even before I knew what I wanted to do with my life, I knew I loved making things and telling stories.

I went on to study at the College of Charleston, graduating in 2016 with degrees in Historic Preservation & Community Planning, Studio Art, and Art History. My plan was to return home to Eastern North Carolina and pursue a career in community planning. As it turns out, my path had something entirely different in store.

Not long after returning home, I found myself traveling up and down the East Coast on a book tour with a chef and cookbook author. She was an artist in her own right and one of the most captivating storytellers I’ve ever worked alongside. Through that experience, I was introduced to so much more than cooking. I learned about agriculture, food, history, and the traditions that make Eastern North Carolina so special. Most importantly, it gave me a deeper appreciation for the place I had always called home.

When the tour ended, I knew I wanted to stay. I settled in Kinston, NC, where I took a full-time job and, on the side, found a local studio where I could continue painting. For the next several years, I learned the business side of the creative world — sales, marketing, relationships, and all the behind-the-scenes pieces that go into building something of your own.

Those experiences gave me something I didn’t realize I needed: the confidence to take my art seriously as a career. In February 2023, I took the leap and became a full-time artist.

Today, I’m lucky enough to call the little waterfront town of New Bern, North Carolina home. So much of what I create is a reflection of the life I’ve built here and the things I’ve always loved — animals, nature, pattern, design, home, and the people who make it meaningful.

At the heart of my work is storytelling. I want my art to feel like it belongs to a place, a person, or a memory. I love the idea that something I create might become part of someone else’s story, too. That’s ultimately what makes the work so meaningful to me, and I hope that sense of joy and connection comes through in everything I make.