Claire Dawkins was born and raised in Lafayette, Louisiana; from a young age, she was exposed to the fine arts through her mother, who is also a painter. She regularly hikes in Louisiana taking photographs of the state’s natural beauty. As a painter, she works in oils, referencing her photographs from these hikes. She is particularly drawn to wildflowers and takes inspiration from the vast abundance of their colors and forms. Her work has been displayed in businesses throughout Acadiana through the BARE Walls program at Basin Arts, and she has had paintings accepted to national competitions, such as last year’s New Orleans Art Association’s juried art show.