A New England native now based in Richmond, Virginia, Paula has long been drawn to creative expression. After earning her Bachelor’s degree in Nursing in 1985, she built a career in healthcare while also pursuing her passion for athletics, competing for many years as an amateur cyclist. Throughout this time, her artistic instincts found occasional outlets through painting classes—first in acrylics and later in oils.
 
It was later in life that Paula turned her primary focus toward art, dedicating much of her time to painting, studying, and refining her craft through classes and workshops. Her first major body of work, Along the Bus Route, was inspired by her daily commute, where she became captivated by the nuances of light and atmosphere in the urban landscape. This exploration of light—its ability to reveal both beauty and mood—became a defining element of her work.
 
As her artistic journey evolved, Paula turned her attention back to the natural world, focusing on native flora, fauna, and pollinators of Virginia. A devoted nature and animal advocate, she creates works that celebrate the quiet beauty and interconnection of these subjects. Her paintings are often described as realistic yet “painterly,” reflecting both precision and sensitivity to light and mood.
 
Paula’s process begins with a detailed tonal underpainting drawing, painted directly on the substrate, establishing composition, light, and values, before layering color. Her paintings have been featured in regional juried exhibitions.