Kelly Singleton

Biography

Kelly Singleton was born and raised in rural Maryland. Her passion for animals was instilled early on and growing up she expressed this passion through art. She went on to attend the Maryland Institute College of Art where she graduated with a BFA in illustration. This led to a career as a graphic artist, which she did for over 20 years. Throughout, she actively painted and exhibited her wildlife paintings. In 2018, she went full time with her art and relocated to northern Colorado where she has been inspired by its wildlife and rugged beauty.

Kelly makes frequent trips into local and national parks of the western United States to observe and gather reference of wildlife. These trips fuel inspiration for new work. The artist feels the best part of being a wildlife painter is the fieldwork. Back home in the studio, Kelly brings her paintings to life in oils. She hopes that her work brings attention to the beauty of nature and that it also conveys the importance of preserving it.

She is a Signature Member of the Society of Animal Artists and has won several of their awards, including their coveted Award of Excellence. Her work is in the permanent collection of the Leigh Yawkey Woodson Art Museum and many private collections. She participates in several prominent national shows each year. Kelly and her husband, Jimmy live in Longmont, CO along with their beloved Boxer, Hank.

MEMBERSHIPS
Society of Animal Artists (Signature Member)

SELECTED EXHIBITIONS
2021
Night of Artists, Briscoe Western Art Museum, San Antonio, TX
Colorado Governor’s Art Show, Loveland Museum, Loveland, CO
Animal Impressions, Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum, Tucson, AZ
Small Works Great Wonders, National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum, Oklahoma City, OK
Waterfowl Festival, Easton, MD

2020
Night of Artists, Briscoe Western Art Museum, San Antonio, TX
Colorado Governor’s Art Show, Loveland Museum, Loveland, CO
Art for the Sangres Online Sale, Westcliffe, CO
Small Works Great Wonders, National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum, Oklahoma City, OK
Mountain Oyster Club Contemporary Western Art Show & Sale, Tucson, AZ

2019
Night of Artists, Briscoe Western Art Museum, San Antonio, TX
Art for the Sangres, A Painted View Ranch, Westcliffe, CO
Waterfowl Festival, Easton, MD
Small Works Great Wonders, National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum, Oklahoma City, OK

2018
Night of Artists, Briscoe Western Art Museum, San Antonio, TX
Small Works Great Wonders, National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum, Oklahoma City, OK
Mountain Oyster Club Contemporary Western Art Show & Sale, Tucson, AZ
Kentucky National Wildlife Art Exhibit, Henderson Fine Arts Center, Henderson, KY

2017
Night of Artists, Briscoe Western Art Museum, San Antonio, TX
Society of Animal Artists, Art & the Animal Exhibition, Hiram Blauvelt Art Museum, Oradell, NJ
Small Works Great Wonders, National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum, Oklahoma City, OK
Waterfowl Festival, Easton, MD

2016
Birds in Art, Leigh Yawkey Woodson Art Museum, Wausau, WI
Society of Animal Artists, Art & the Animal Exhibition, Houston Museum of Natural Science, Houston, TX
Wildlife Art: Field to Studio, Flinn Gallery, Greenwich Library, Greenwich, CT
Small Works Great Wonders, National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum, Oklahoma City, OK
Waterfowl Festival, Easton, MD

AWARDS
2021
Award of Merit: National Oil & Acrylic Painters Society, Spring 2021 International Online Exhibition
Award of Merit: Colorado Governor’s Fine Art Show, Loveland Museum, Loveland, CO
Finalist: Wildlife Art Prize Challenge, International Artist Magazine
First Place Award: Art Show International, 1st Annual “ANIMAL” International Juried Art Competition

2018
Volunteers’ Choice Award: Small Works Great Wonders, National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum, Oklahoma City, OK

2017
Best in Show: Richeson 75 Online Animals, Birds & Wildlife

2016
Honorable Mention: Art Competition.net, “Nature”

2015
Fine Art Connoisseur Magazine Editor’s Choice Award: Society of Animal Artists 55th Annual Art and the Animal Exhibition
Award of Excellence: Society of Animal Artists 55th Annual Art and the Animal Exhibition

2014
John Stanley Hoffman Memorial Award: Kentucky National Wildlife Art Exhibition

2013
First Place Water Media: Best & Brightest Juried Fine Art Show, Scottsdale Artists’ School

2012
President’s Award: Society of Animal Artists 52nd Annual Art and the Animal Exhibition
Best Head Portrait: American Academy of Equine Art Fall Open Juried Exhibition

2011
Best in Show: Richeson 75 Online Animals, Birds and Wildlife
First Place Water Media: Irving Arts Association 10th Annual Wildlife Art Exhibit
Merit Award: Maryland Pastel Society Shades of Pastel Exhibition
Honorable Mention: Watercolor Artist Magazine, Water Media Showcase Competition

SELECTED PUBLICATIONS
Fine Art Connoisseur Magazine: Editorial Portfolio, “Go Wild”, Oct 2021
International Artist Magazine: “Challenge No. 123, Wildlife”, June/July 2021
Fine Art Connoisseur Magazine: Editorial Portfolio, “Beloved Creatures Great and Small”, Feb 2021
Art of the West Magazine: Feature Article, “It’s A Wild Life”, July/Aug 2020
Fine Art Connoisseur Magazine: Editorial Portfolio, “Feathers, Fur & Fins: Animal Art is Thriving”, Oct 2016
Pratique des Arts Magazine: Feature Article, “Profession: peintre animalier”, Dec 2015
“The Contemporary Art of Nature: Mammals”, Schiffer Publishing, 2015