Nina is a self-taught artist living in White Salmon, WA with her husband John. She has two grown daughters and three grandchildren. She originally moved to Hood River in 1993 and then moved to Portland for work. She moved back again in 2011 to open Idlewild Market in Hood River where she painted in the window to pass the winter hours. After selling the store in 2015 she decided to fulfill her dream to pursue a full-time art career. Having traveled extensively she still finds never ending inspiration in the Columbia Gorge, where every day nature produces something different.  She also spends a great deal of time at the beach, particularly the Long Beach Peninsula in Washington, where a vast majority of her work is inspired. ​

“I love painting vast expanses of oceans and beaches. I think for many of us, when life gets too hectic our whole-body screams to stand at the shore. Suddenly we feel a sense of calm and balance once again. This is what I try to hard to convey in my work; to offer that sense of calm even if we can’t make it to the ocean.”

Born in Cape Town, South Africa she has now lived in the USA for over 40 years and feels finding the Columbia River Gorge was finding home. And can't imagine living anywhere else.

Nina feels honored to have the opportunity to do so many commissioned works over the years. She has enjoyed producing every one-of-a-kind original and admits “I agonize over my own interpretation and what I think my client envisioned! Some paintings come easily and some struggle to let me know what they want to say. It's hard to explain. I think the ones that beat me down so they can be what they want to be always turn out the best...it takes time for me to get out of my own way. When those moments happen though everything flows like magic and I have a good laugh at myself.”

Please feel free to contact Nina regarding commissions or visit her at her gallery/studio at 363 E. Jewett Blvd. in White Salmon. If she’s not painting in the window, just call for a private showing (503) 701-8959.