Mary Verrandeaux

I cannot remember a time when I didn't draw, sketch, or doodle on every school paper, homework or note pad available to me. As a child, I was involved in showing horses and taking care of our family farm in upstate New York. But any time I sat still, a bale of hay or a warm summer day, I was drawing and creating. Although I remember being encouraged in grade school, it really wasn't until I moved to Florida in 1979 and took art with fine artist Jack Thursby. Jack was instrumental in encouraging me that I truly had a future in art. I was accepted to Ringling College of Art & Design and graduated as an illustrator with honors in 1983.

In 1985, I founded Verrandeaux Visual Communications, Inc. A full-service marketing and advertising firm in Ocala, Florida. The firm grew to become a million + business. But I always knew I wanted to pursue a fine arts career later. After 21 years, that later came in April of 2006, when I sold the business and devoted my time to painting full-time.

I had began to purse commissioned portrait work around 1999, and I still have clients that I work with on a regular basis. I really love to paint... portraits, animals, or landscapes. I truly love the freedom and the variety of a fine artist. I have finally found my calling. There is not a day that goes by that I don't see something I want to turn into a painting.

I am working very hard to establish a foundation of clients in the equine industry, expand my client base and continue to grow doing larger shows with well established and appreciative collectors. I have a wonderful relationshp with many of the top show promotors including The Classic Company, HITS, Vermont Summer Festival Horse Shows and the Hampton Classic to name a few. I welcome the exposure of new covers and am honored to be a part of these prestigious horse shows.

Working inside the mobile gallery at an event

I am a veteran equine artist and horsewomen who has had work published several times in prestigious equine publications and have been involved in many equine show events. Some of my accomplishments are as follows;

2010
Official artist of the Hampton Classic, Bridgehampton, NY
Official artist of the Vermont Summer Festival Horse Shows, East Dorset, VT
Invited to display in an art show/sale at the Kentucky Derby
Official artist of the Gulfport Spring Series, Gulf Port, Mississippi
Official artist of the Charleston Summer Series, Gulf Port, Mississippi
Donated art to benefit Marion County Education System
Donated a painting to be auctioned off and all proceeds go to the Hospice of Marion County

2009
Cover art for Ocala HITS, Ocala
Official artist of the Gulfport Spring Series, Gulf Port, Mississippi
Cover art for The Chronicle of the Horse

2008
Cover art for The Chronicle of the Horse
Festival of the Masters at Downtown Disney
Winning design of the Florida Horse Park license plate

2007
Best of Show, painting category, Celebration Art Festival, Celebration, Florida

2006
Official artist of the Biltmore Classic, Asheville, North Carolina
Official artist of the Gulfport Spring Series, Gulf Port, Mississippi
Poster artist for "Bark About Art", Ocala, Florida

2005
Official artist of the Biltmore Classic, Asheville, North Carolina
Official artist of the Gulfport Spring Series, Gulf Port, Mississippi
Cover of the Horse Digest Magazine
Cover of the Natural Awakenings Magazine

2004
Official artist of the National Metropolitan Horse Show in New York City
Official artist of the HITS, Ocala, Florida and Indio, California
Official artist of the Biltmore Classic, Asheville, North Carolina
Cover of The Chronicle of the Horse Magazine

2003
Official artist of the HITS, Ocala, Florida and Indio, California.