| Our Resident Artists Studios, located on the second floor, are open to the public |
| Meet the Smithfield Cultural Art Center's Resident Artists |
| Several artists maintain working studios in the Smithfield Cultural Arts Center, making arts and artists uniquely accessible to members and visitors. |
| After fourteen moves as a Navy wife of 23 years, Priscilla settled in Smithfield 12 years ago, enjoying growing success with her art in acrylic painting, murals, faux finishes, and painted furniture. She has had paintings in the Smithfield Duck Unlimited auction for the last three years, t-shirt designs for the local Yogi’s Run and the 2004 Hog Jog 5K Fundraiser, and the marquee poster for the Smithfield High School production of “It’s a Wonderful Life.” Priscilla was also a decorative artist for the Harbour View 2000 Parade of Homes in Suffolk, VA. Priscilla is a member and four time Vice President of the Brush and Palette Club and has been a Resident Artist at the Smithfield Cultural Arts Center since September 2004. |
Award-winning artist Roberta Williams was born in Washington, D.C. and grew up
in the suburbs of Maryland. She is an innovative, multi-faceted artist, journalist, and
teacher. Roberta has been painting since she was a little girl. Her artwork has been
in many exhibits and hangs in the homes of many private collectors. She currently
lives in Virginia with her husband and three children. They are an Air Force family
and have traveled all over the world. She believes that the beauty of art can change
people in many positive ways. Roberta is a Christian and says her greatest
inspiration comes from her faith, as she often asks God, “Please, teach me how to
paint.”
Visit her website at: www.divinegardenart.com/rwilliams
in the suburbs of Maryland. She is an innovative, multi-faceted artist, journalist, and
teacher. Roberta has been painting since she was a little girl. Her artwork has been
in many exhibits and hangs in the homes of many private collectors. She currently
lives in Virginia with her husband and three children. They are an Air Force family
and have traveled all over the world. She believes that the beauty of art can change
people in many positive ways. Roberta is a Christian and says her greatest
inspiration comes from her faith, as she often asks God, “Please, teach me how to
paint.”
Visit her website at: www.divinegardenart.com/rwilliams
| Bobbi Canellas moved to Hampton Roads from northern Virginia where she had lived for over twenty years. Bobbi attended Bloomsberg State Teachers College in Pennsylvania and George Washington University in Washington, DC, where she majored in Art and minored in Education. Bobbi has studied painting in Vienna, Austria and Mallorca, Spain. Bobbi is considered an impressionist painter and believes that the play of light and dark on canvas along with the use of vivid colors create emotions that are very important to her work. Although she has taken many mixed media courses, Bobbi's true love is the use of oils for the beautiful texture and colors that they are capable of producing. |
Sheila Gwaltney graduated from Smithfield High School and Mary Washington College returning to live
and work in Smithfield, where she and her husband are raising their son and twin daughters.
In her first studio art classes in college, she never thought she could make it a career. However, in 1985
she enrolled in a plien air painting workshop offered by John Loren Head. Sheila says, “Mr. Head was an
excellent artist and a truly gifted teacher who took my painting abilities and understanding of art to the
next level. He gave me the tools, the focus and the desire to make art. Art became a way of thinking, a
way using the gifts and experiences of my life. “
Sheila is a member of the Isle of Wight Arts League, the Elizabeth River Artists and the Woman’s Club of
Smithfield where she chairs the committee producing the Smithfield Calendar featuring pen & ink
drawings of historic buildings and sites drawn by local artists. She enjoys painting landscapes, portraits,
animals and opportunity to teach drawing and watercolor at SCAC.
and work in Smithfield, where she and her husband are raising their son and twin daughters.
In her first studio art classes in college, she never thought she could make it a career. However, in 1985
she enrolled in a plien air painting workshop offered by John Loren Head. Sheila says, “Mr. Head was an
excellent artist and a truly gifted teacher who took my painting abilities and understanding of art to the
next level. He gave me the tools, the focus and the desire to make art. Art became a way of thinking, a
way using the gifts and experiences of my life. “
Sheila is a member of the Isle of Wight Arts League, the Elizabeth River Artists and the Woman’s Club of
Smithfield where she chairs the committee producing the Smithfield Calendar featuring pen & ink
drawings of historic buildings and sites drawn by local artists. She enjoys painting landscapes, portraits,
animals and opportunity to teach drawing and watercolor at SCAC.
| Priscilla Barbour is a native of Winston-Salem, NC, and has always had her hand in some sort of artistic endeavor. Early on, she spent every summer at the NC School for the Arts and won an art contest in the first grade for a colorful and imaginative “creature” made up of different animal parts. Continuing to draw and dabble in other art forms, it was not until a milestone birthday – unmentioned – that she decided to pursue her own art career. |
Denise Middleton, a native of Pennsylvania, grew up in
Norfolk, and moved to Smithfield in 1996. Encouraged at an
early age, art was always a part of her life. While pursuing a
nursing career, she continued to take art classes at Old
Dominion University, Pennisula Fine Arts Center, and the
Smithfield Cultural Arts Center. A former member of the Brush
& Palette Club, she has entered many regional art shows. She
works in colored pencil, watercolor and oils. "Art, like books,
can transport you to another place", she says. "My fellow artists
have been a great inspiration to me. I love the collective art
process." Her artwork resides with many private collectors.
Visit her Website at www.geocities.com/dartiow.
Norfolk, and moved to Smithfield in 1996. Encouraged at an
early age, art was always a part of her life. While pursuing a
nursing career, she continued to take art classes at Old
Dominion University, Pennisula Fine Arts Center, and the
Smithfield Cultural Arts Center. A former member of the Brush
& Palette Club, she has entered many regional art shows. She
works in colored pencil, watercolor and oils. "Art, like books,
can transport you to another place", she says. "My fellow artists
have been a great inspiration to me. I love the collective art
process." Her artwork resides with many private collectors.
Visit her Website at www.geocities.com/dartiow.