Mary Carroll, 1979 | Narrative / figurative painter

Born in in rural West Virginia, Mary Chiaramonte Carroll spent her youth helping her family work their farm and land in an isolated area.

She had no television or other modern distractions, and was encouraged to entertain herself with objects in nature.

Left with the workings of her imagination and observations of the world around her, she translated her understanding into paintings.

She continues this practice today, gaining much of her creativity from the natural world.

Mark R. Pugh, 1979 | Figurative painter

Mark R. Pugh began creating art at a very young age but did not pursue a career as an artist until later in his adult life.

After earning a Bachelor's degree in Psychology, Pugh decided to change course and develop his artistic skills with help from his mentor, Jeffrey Hein.

Despite his short time as a working artist he has already received awards in some of the top art competitions in the world.

Igor Raikhline, 1950 | Figurative Impressionism painter

Igor studied in Kiev Fine Art Academy, where he was awarded a Masters Degrees in Art and Architecture in 1974.

He moved to USA in 1990 and currently resides in suburbs of Atlanta.

Igor got his first International European Award For Outstanding And Gifted Children when he was 7 years old.

During his 55 years of professional career Igor participated in hundreds of solo and group Fine Art Exhibitions worldwide.

Tjalf Sparnaay, 1954 | Hyper Realistic paintings of food

Tjalf Sparnaay has been working on an innovative oeuvre since 1987, constantly seeking new images that had never been painted before.

His Megarealism is part of the contemporary international movement now known as Hyperrealism; he is now seen as one of the most important and trend-setting painters internationally in that style.

His artworks are displayed in collections all over the world and regularly exhibited outside the Netherlands, for instance in New York.

Valerie Palmer, 1950 | Figurative painter

Valerie Palmer was born in Toronto.

She completed her BFA Honours at the University of Manitoba in 1973.

Leaving both Toronto and Winnipeg after her studies, Valerie headed north to the far shore of Lake Superior.

Recognizing a profound love of the wilderness fostered by summers in her youth, she created a home and embraced the inspiration that has informed her paintings for the past 25 years.

Sylvia Gosse | Post-Impressionist painter

Laura Sylvia Gosse (1881-1968) was an English painter and printmaker.

She also ran an art school with the painter Walter Sickert.

Laura Sylvia Gosse, known as Sylvia, was the youngest of three children of Ellen (Epps) Gosse and English poet and critic Sir Edmund Gosse.

Her grandfather was the naturalist Philip Henry Gosse, and the painter Lawrence Alma-Tadema was her uncle by marriage.