Born in Western NC, Donna is a multi-faceted artist whose experience spans more than three decades.  With a background and eduction that range from photography, to lost-wax bronze study and the performing arts, her works are remarkably bold with painterly effects in oils, watercolors, inks & whimsical ceramic sculpture.

In childhood, Donna began sketching animals she saw on the big screen.  She loved spending time out-of-doors with her twin sister and their pets.  As a teen living abroad in Japan and Brazil, she developed a lifelong love of foreign art and music and was especially influenced by the exuberant and colorful African Samba, in Santos, Brazil. 

Donna met her husband, Steve, in 1986, at El Toro Marine Base where they were both stationed at Comm Squadron 38.  Since that time, Steve has been instrumental in Donna’s continued pursuit of the arts, supporting her and being her #1 fan.  Steve is her Sherpa, guide and friendly art critic.  

 Many of her works are inspired by their travels in the American West and South Africa.  Her passion has evolved into creating artful and authentic photographic works which convey a sense of tranquility, beauty and mystery that are sometimes uses as examples for her oils and watercolors.

 Her photography has been published or featured in online magazines and websites, including the NPF, NPS, The International Audubon Society, The Department of the Interior, and National Geographic.  Her works are for sale in National Parks and locally in The Working Artists’ Gallery.  In 2016, her photo Coke Oven Views was awarded the cover of the NPS Centennial Edition Photo Book of all the units of the National Park System.  Later that year, she had two photos published by National Geographic online and was invited to Yellowstone to shoot with National Geographic Your Shot.  In 2017, she was named “Best of the West Artist” by the Grand Junction Sentinel Readers. In the last few years, she has won awards through the National and Local Veterans Art Festivals.

Donna lives, hikes and bikes in Grand Junction with Steve, their Aussie, Georgia and a couple of very lazy cats.