Fiona Purdy » About the Artist

I've never met a horse or animal that I didn't want to paint.

Hi and welcome. I'm so glad you're here. I'm happy that you are interested in my work and I'm excited to share it with you!  I promise I won't blather on too much about myself, however I've had a kind of interesting life and I paint in a very interesting style, so I'll tell you a little about both.

I was born in the US, but when I was 8 my family moved to New Zealand.  It was there that my passion for horses and animals pretty much took hold.  New Zealand was a fantastic place to grow up - especially since there are horses and animals every where, for me paradise for sure!  I've always drawn animals, however, it was in NZ that I started painting them.

I paint animals in a dynamic, contemporary way. 

"No one paints horses as wonderfully as you! Or burros!  I not only love the detail of the horse but your design around the edges are great."~Elly Sands

I've been a full time professional animal artist for the past five years.    I moved to Scottsdale in the mid 90's and was very excited to find out that many different breeds of horses are bred and raised here in Scottsdale and north Phoenix.   

Recently I've started to paint the native animals and plants that live here in the beautiful deserts of Arizona.  This is a very special place with special inhabitants and I love capturing the "feel" of the desert.

My art is for the person who is looking for something different in the way animals are portrayed.  In all of my paintings I surround the subject with a border design that matches the subject's personality or references it's heritage.  I always have a portion of the animal overlap the border.  My intention in doing this is two-fold.  One is to create the feeling that the animal’s personality is so powerful that it just can’t be contained on the canvas.  The second is more personal.  The border represents me and the subject is my artistic vision that just bursts out of my heart and soul.

I also paint pet portraits. I enjoy capturing the personality and essence of each pet I am entrusted to paint.  Well that's enough of my story. I hope that you enjoy exploring my website and that you'll find something you'd like to purchase to grace your living space.   

Thanks for visiting - come back often as I will constantly be adding new paintings!

Now for all of you that do want to know more of the gory details about me as an artist - please carry on reading!

My Artist Statement

I create exciting, dynamic, contemporary art that conveys the essence of all animals and my deep love for them.

Resume

Art Affiliations

Sonoran Arts League, juried member
Arizona Art Alliance, juried member

Arizona Consortium for the Arts
American Kennel Club, Museum of the Dog Registry

Selected Exhibitions/Shows

2011

Exibitor: Exhibition of artwork by Arizona Artists, Phoenix Attorney General's Offices Phoenis & Tucson Arizona

Juried Event: Celebration of Fine Art, Scottsdale, AZ
2010

Juried Event: Hidden in the Hills, Artist Studio Tour & Sale, Carefree, AZ
Juried Event: Celebration of Fine Art, Scottsdale, AZ
 2009
Juried Event: Hidden in The Hills, Artist Studio Tour & Sale,Carefree, AZ
Exhibitor: Varian Arabians Summer Jubilee Event, Arroyo Grande, CA
Exhibition:  Mayo Clinic Family Medicine Building, Peoria, AZ
Juried Event: Arizona Fine Arts EXPO, Scottsdale, AZ
Juried Event: BRIO Fine Arts Center Exhibition "Wild to Mild" Animals in Art, Scottsdale, AZ
 2008
Participating Artist: Hidden in The Hills, Artist Studio Tour & Sale,Carefree, AZ
Juried Event: Arizona Art Alliance Fall Exhibition - Second Place, Acrylics
Juried Event: Carefree Film & Arts Festival
Juried Event: Arizona Art Alliance Spring Exhibition – Merit Award, Acrylics
Juried Event: Sonoran Festival of Fine Art, Carefree AZ
2006/2007
Finalist:  Academy of Equine Art Calendar competition months of: November – April
Exhibitor: Scottsdale Arabian Horse Show
2005
Juried Event: Art Show at the Dog Show, Wichita, KS

Publications/Articles
2009
Cover Artist: South Australian Arabian Riders & Breeders Society, August newsletter
2008
Featured Artist: Arabian Horse Times Magazine July newsletter
Featured Artist: Arizona Republic Sonoran Arts Festival
2004
Listed Artist:  Art Buyer’s Guide Volume X- AZ Artists
2003
Article:  The Peak Magazine
Featured Artist:  Scottsdale Life Magazine
Article:  Arizona Republic Newspaper
2001
Article:  North Scottsdale Independent Newspaper

Featured Articles

In-Depth Fiona Purdy Interview:  The Equinest On Line Magazine  June 2009
The Equinest

Arizona Republic newspaper:  Featured Artist, Sonoran Fine Art Festival Article, April 2008
AZ Republic