About the Artist

"I have a passion for painting trees and am drawn to the complexities of tangled branches and fractured light beams through the forest. Trunks twisted, bent and straight, sort of like human beings. They teach us about life; strength, fragilities, endurance, and weathering the storms. 

Maureen was born in Portsmouth, VA but has lived most of her life in the Boston area. Her  love of drawing and painting began early in childhood. Her father was the creative soul in the family, and she believes that the artist in him was passed on to her. She spent a lot of time in the south , when she was a child, playing in Alabama's woods and creeks. There began her love affair with trees and the woodlands. Growing up was hard in those days, and with the loss of her father, she found refuge in those woods. Today she is a painter of trees.

On with life, raising two boys and a career in social work meant art , was a ways off. She had always wanted to be an artist, and following an early retirement, she began studying at North River Arts Society and South Shore Art Center where she fell in love with the pastel medium under the instruction of Donna Rossetti Bailey and Liz Haywood Sullivan. There began the journey.

Maureen continues to further her studies, considering herself a lifelong student, by taking workshops given by internationally recognized pastel artists. Ken Elliot, Tom Christopher, Casey Klahn, Ed Chesnovich, Tony Alain, and Kim Lordier to name a few.  These masters, have influenced her style which has evolved from a realistic approach to a more contemporary perspective , flecked with bold colors, strong lines and light . "I am always trying to develop and improve my work. It drives me forward" 

"The Hudson River School Artists believed studying the land led to enlightenment and a connection with Divine Harmony. That is the connection I strive to capture in my paintings: the Spirit of it all"

Today, Maureen is an award winning artist who exhibits throughout New England, New York and New Mexico.
In 2010 she was elected signature membership in the Pastel Society of America, N.Y., and signature membership in the Pastel Society of Cape Cod in 2013. Maureen was also honored with the Master Circle Award from the International Association of Pastel Societies in 2015 and in 2016 became a South Shore Art Center Gallery Artist.

Represented by :
                              N.W. Barrett Upstairs Gallery, 53 Market St., Portsmouth, N.H. 603-431-4262

Juried International, National & Regional Exhibitions & Awards:

 Central Mass Pastel Society, Marks Of Distinction , National Juried Exhibition Sept 2026

South Shore Arts Festival, Juried Exhibition, Cohasset, Ma. Award of Excellence June 2026

Cape Cod Art Center, Inspired by Nature Juried Exhibition , Honorable Mention in Pastel 2026

North River Arts Festival National Juried Exhibition, June 2026

North River Arts Society, In from the Cold Juried Exhibition 2025

Hanover Day, Frame Center Exhibition, Blue Ribbon for Artistic Excellence, 2025

James Center for the Arts, Norwell, Ma. , Spring National Juried Exhibition, 2025

For Pastels Only, National Juried Exhibition, Pastel Painters Society of Cape Cod, 2025

Cape Cod Art Center, Barnstable , Ma. 'Red' National Juried Exhibition, Best in Show, 2025

International Assoc. of Pastel Societies, Master Circle Division Exhibition. 2025

North River Festival of the Arts, National Juried Exhibition, Ross Bodnar Memorial Award, 2025

C.C.A.C. , Barnstable, Ma. 'Its a Beautiful WorldJuried Exhibition, 2nd place in Pastel, 2024

For Pastels Only, National Juried Exhibition, Pastel Society of West Coast Award 2024

C.C.A.C., Barnstable, Ma. Spring National Exhibition, 'Best American Landscape' Award 2024

North River Arts Society, Festival of the Arts, Marshfield, Ma. National Juried Exhibition, Marion Atkinson's Award for Pastel, 2024

South Shore Art Festival , National Juried Exhibition,  June 2024

Central Mass Pastel Society, Harvard, Ma. National Juried Exhibition , 'Best use of Color as Light' Award 2023

Conn. Pastel Society,  'Renaissance in Pastel' , National Juried Exhibition , Pastel Painters Society of Cape Cod Award, 2023

Pastel Society of New Hampshire, Juried Members show, 2nd Place, June, 2023
South Shore Arts Festival, Juried Exhibition, Coheasset, Ma. 2nd Place in Acrylic, June 2023
North River Arts Festival, Juried Exhibition, Marion Atkinson Award, May 2023
Cape Cod Art Center, Barnstable, Ma. Red Exhibition, 1st Place April 2023
Cape Cod Art Center Barnstable, Ma. Juried Natural Beauty Exhibition, Best in Show, March 2023
South Shore Art Center, Cohasset, Ma. Blue Ribbon Exhibition, Blue Ribbon, 2023

Duxbury Winter Show, Duxbury , Ma.  National Juried Exhibition, 2022
PPSCC , National Juried Exhibition,'FOR PASTELS ONLY' , Culteral Center of Cape Cod, Best In Show, June 2022
Cape Cod Art Association, Barnsatble, Ma. People's Choice Award July 2022
Cape Cod Art Center, Town and Country Exhibition, Best in Show, Barnstable, Ma. June 2022
Pastel Journal, The 22nd Anual Pastel 100, Honorable Mention in Landscape , Spring 2021 edition
North River Arts Society, Members Show, Honorable Mention, Marshfield, Ma. 2021
Connecticut Pastel Society, Renaissance in Pastel 2020, Best in Show, 2020
International Association of Pastel Societies, 37th Juried Exhibition, Web Show, 2020
Pastel Society of America 48th Juried International Exhibit "Enduring Brilliance",  National Arts Club, New York, 2020
South Shore Art Center's Annual Festival of the Arts, 1st place in Pastel, Cohasset, MA. 2020
First Regional Pastel Exhibition, Copley Society of Art, Boston, MA., Honorable Mention, 2020
For Pastels Only, Pastel Painters Society of Cape Cod, Juried International Exhibit, Cape Cod, 2020
International Association Of Pastel Societies Juried Web Show, 2019
Pastel Society of America 47th Juried Exhibition "Enduring Brilliance" , National Arts Club, New York 2019
For Pastels Only, Juried International Show, Cape Cod 2019
North River Arts Festival, Juried Exhibition, Marion Atkinson Memorial Award 2019
Duxbury Art Association, Juried Winter Show, 1st Place Pastel/Drawing, Duxbury, MA 2019
Pastel Society of New Hampshire "It's Pastel!" 10th Annual National Juried Exhibition Great American Artworks Award 2018
North River Arts Society, Members Show, Best of Show Marshfield MA, 2018
For Pastels Only, Juried international Show,CT Pastel Society Award Cape Cod, 2018
Duxbury Art Association, Annual Winter Show, 1st Place Pastel 2018
North River Arts Festival, Juried Exhibition, Donna Greene Award for Expression of Magical Light 2018
Pastel Society of America 45th Annual Juried Exhibition "Enduring Brilliance", New York, NY 2017
PPSCC, National Juried Exhibition "For Pastels Only" Cultural Center of Cape Cod, Award of Excellence 2017
North River Arts Festival Juried Exhibition, 1st Place Pastel 2017
PPSCC, Juried Signature Member Exhibition , "For the Love of Color", Cape Cod Museum of Art Honorable Mention 2017
Signature Exhibition, Cape Cod Museum of Art , Honorable Mention, Dennis, MA 2017
27th Annual HPAA Mayors Scolley Square Exhibition, Best In Show Boston, MA 2016
Hudson Valley Art Assoc. 83rd Annual Juried Exhibition, Salmagundi Club, New York, NY 2016
"For Pastels Only" International Juried Show, Cape Cod, MA 2016
South Shore Art Center Festival, Juried Exhibition 2016
Festival of the Arts , Juried Exhibition, North River Arts Society 2016
IAPS, 11th Biennial Convention, Master Circle Award, Alberquerque, NM 2015
IAPS, 3rd Master Circle, Juried Master Exhibition, Alberquerque, NM 2015
"For Pastels Only", International Juried Show, Cape Cod, MA Pastel Society of North Carolina Award 2015
North River Arts Festival Juried Exhibition, Marshfield, MA Dee Dee Pierce Memorial Award for Landscape Painting 2015
15th Annual Frances N. Roddy Open Competition, Concord Art Association, Concord, MA 2015
International Association of Pastel Societies 24th Juried Exhibition, Vose Gallery, Boston, MA 2014
South Shore Arts Festival, Cohasset, MA Award of Excellence 2014
Arts Affair, Marina Bay, Quincy, MA 1st place 2014
14th Annual Frances N. Roddy Open Competition, Concord Art Association, Concord, MA 2014
South Shore Arts Festival Members Show, Cohasset, MA Ross Farbush Award for Color 2014
"For Pastels Only" International Juried Show, Cape Cod, MA 2014
International Association of Pastel Societies 22nd Juried Exhibition, Albuquerque, New Mexico 2013
International Association of Pastel Societies Juried Web Show, 2013
International Juried Exhibition, “For Pastels Only”, Cape Cod,MA 2012
South Shore Art Center, Juried Exhibition, Cohasset, MA 3rd Place, Painting 2012
23 Annual Scollay Square Mayors Exhibit, Boston, MA 3rd place, Painting 2012
Pastel Painters of Maine, 12th International Juried Exhibition for “Pastels Only” 2011
22nd Annual Scollay Square Mayors Exhibit, Boston, MA 1st place, Pastel 2011
Pastel Society of New Hampshire, National Juried Show, “Its Pastel”, Pastel Painters of Maine Award 2010
“For Pastels Only" International Juried Show, Cape Cod, MA 2010
21st Annual Juried Scollay Square Mayors Exhibit, Boston, MA Best in Show 2010
Sixth Annual Juried Northeast National Pastel Exhibition, Old Forge, NY 2010
Duxbury Art Complex Museum, Annual Winter Juried Show, Duxbury Art Association, Duxbury, MA 2010
North River Arts Society Members Show, Marshfield, MA Award of Excellence 2010
South Shore Art Center,Members Show,Cohasset,MA Award of Excellence2010
“14th International Association of Pastel Societies Juried Web Show,” 2009
South Shore Art Center, Juried Exhibition, Our Towns: Scene & Unseen, Cohasset, MA Honorable Mention 2009
Duxbury Midsummer Show, Duxbury, MA 1st place - pastel 2009
Connecticut Pastel Society, 16th Annual Juried Exhibition, Renaissance in Pastel, 2009
Pembroke 42 Annual Arts Festival, Pembroke, MA 1st place-drawing-mixed media 2009
Festival on the Common, South Shore Art Center, Cohasset, MA Award of Excellence 2009
Duxbury Art Museum, Annual Winter Juried Show, Duxbury, MA 2009
Festival of the Arts, North River Juried Show, Marshfield, MA 2006-2008
Festival of the Arts, North River Arts Society, Marshfield, MA 1st place - pastel 2008
Boston City Hall Exhibit, Juried Show, Boston, MA Best in Show 2008

Solo and Group Shows:
Solo Show, "A Call to the Woods" Dolphin Gallery, Hingham, MA. October , 2023
Mass General Hospital Cancer Center, Illuminations Program 2019
Solo Show, Hope Hospice and Palliative Care Hospital, Providence, Rhode Island 2019
Group Show Circle Furniture, Pembroke, MA 2019
Solo Show, Helen Bumpus Gallery, Duxbury, MA 2019
Two Person Show, "A Sense of Place" Flora T. Little Gallery, Bridgewater, MA 2019
Solo Show, Focus Real Estate, First Thursday, 2018
Two Person Show. "Pure Pigment", James Library Center for the Arts, Norwell, MA 2017
Two Person Show "Dancing with Pastels" South Shore Science Center, Norwell, MA 2016
Solo Show, "The Wonder of it All", Dolphin Gallery, Hingham, MA 2015
Solo Show, Cobwebs, Jamaica Plain, MA, 2007, 2009, 2010
The James Library Center for the Arts, “Scenes of the North River”, Norwell, MA ,2009
Sotheby’s “Emerging Pastel Artists” Show, Cohasset, MA , 2008

Education:
South Shore Art Center, Pastel Painting, 2006-2014
North River Arts Society-Painting the Landscape in Pastel, 2007 Ongoing education  and participation in workshops.
Professional Affiliations/Memberships
Signature Member of Pastel Society of America, Master Circle Member of the International Association of Pastel Societies Signature Member of Pastel Painters Society of Cape Cod, South Shore Art Center Gallery Cohasset, Ma. Artist Member ,North River Arts Society, Marshfield, Ma.