Heather McKey

Biography

Heather McKey is a traditional acrylic painter, depicting imaginary birdlife and sea creatures with unexpected and striking features.

These fanciful individuals are embellished with a variety of shells and botanicals often intermingled with feathers and patterns borrowed from nature. Strange and familiar at the same time, they are playful and exotic as they strike a pose in their world of dreamy landscapes and seascapes, peering back at their viewers with large, expressive eyes. 

 

In each painting, there is homage to the beauty and design displayed in nature but shared through the artist’s eye, giving viewers a chance to let their imaginations run wild with the unique personalities, expressions and stories layered in. Thoughtfully planned and painted with sensitive detail, Heather’s hope is to connect her artworks with those who can personally identify with the soulful and realistic intrigue of her friendly creations and feel a sense of warmth and wonder.

 

From the onset of her debut solo gallery show with Distinction Gallery, collectors now enjoy her paintings in their homes across the world. Heather’s own home is San Diego, California where she paints and raises her family with her husband, Nick.

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Education
ART MENTORSHIP WITH JUDY NACHAZEL, 1991-2001
Ramona, California

PALOMAR COLLEGE, FINE ART AND ILLUSTRATION, 2000-2007
San Marcos, California

ART MENTORSHIP WITH CHRISTOPHER POLENTZ, 2003-2009
San Diego, California

Exhibits
The Olde Ramona Hotel Gallery, 2003
Gallery 97/Back Door Gallery, 2008
San Diego County Fair Fine Arts Exhibition, 2009
Gallery 97/Back Door Gallery, 2009
The Olde Ramona Hotel Gallery, 2009
San Diego County Fair Fine Arts Exhibit, 2010 & 2011
CPSA Explore This! 8 Online International Exhibit, 2012 - 2013
Main Street Gallery 5, 2012

One Plus Six Equals Seven, Distinction Gallery, 2013

San Diego County Fair Fine Arts Exhibit, 2013

Animal Fairy Tales, Fables, Fact or Fiction, Las Laguna Art Gallery, 2013

10th Anniversary Show, Distinction Gallery, 2014

CPSA Explore This! 10 Online International Exhibit, 2014 - 2015

Wonderbirds, Solo Show Debut, Distinction Gallery, 2014

CPSA Explore This! 11 Online International Exhibit, 2015 - 2016

One On One, Sparks Gallery, 2015

Prints On Wood Show, Distinction Gallery, 2015

LA Art Show, Distinction Gallery Booth, 2016

Natural Beauty, Solo Show, Distinction Gallery, 2017

Natural Histories VI, Antler Gallery, 2017

Awards
The Olde Ramona Hotel Gallery | 3rd Place
San Diego County Fair | Fine Arts Exhibition, Honorable Mention, People’s Choice Award
San Diego County Fair | Fine Arts Exhibition, 2nd Place, Honorable Mention, People’s Choice Award
San Diego County Fair | Fine Arts Exhibition, Honorable Mention

Colored Pencil Society of America |CPX Signature Status Award

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Publications

To The Point CPSA magazine issues, 2013, 2015 & 2016

Enchanted, Out of Steps Books, 2016

Affiliations
Member of the Colored Pencil Society of America (CPSA)