ARTIST DIRECTORY

Judy Boyette is a versatile artist renowned for her glass mosaics, mixed media, and acrylic paintings. With 37 years of experience teaching language arts and visual art in NC public schools, she brings a wealth of knowledge and creativity to her work. Judy has participated in numerous local art shows and has painted murals in various locations across Johnston, Wake, and Lee counties. Currently, she serves as the president of the Johnston County Arts Council and facilitates the art studio Creative Connections. Her work is celebrated for its vibrant energy and innovative use of materials.

Skyler Cason is a dedicated artist from Clinton, North Carolina, whose passion for art began in childhood. After attending Campbell University and rediscovering her love for art in Missouri, she now thrives as a full-time artist and mother. Known for her live wedding paintings, Skyler also creates vibrant pieces inspired by her home, relationships, and faith in Christ. She believes the world, designed by Jesus, is the most beautiful art, and she strives to reflect this in her work. Skyler invites you to connect through her website to bring your art and design dreams to life. 

Follow Skyler on Social Media: https://linktr.ee/skylerhopedesigns 

Courtney Cheatham, known as “Co,” is a photographer/director born and raised in New Orleans, Louisiana and based in Fayetteville, NC. Courtney’s work is inspired by femininity, intimacy, and nature. Her primary focus is to gracefully capture people of color in their natural form.

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Michael Daughtry is a Billboard-charting Adult Contemporary recording artist, singer/songwriter, music coach, and mentor, known for his soulful vocals and heartfelt lyrics. Born in a small North Carolina town, he discovered his passion for music at a young age and pursued it after graduating magna cum laude from Berklee College of Music in Songwriting. Michael has opened for notable artists and performed extensively, including a stint with Blue Man Group in Boston. His music, characterized by rich piano melodies and themes of hope, resonates with listeners, aiming to inspire emotions and movement. Beyond music, Michael teaches piano, guitar, voice, and songwriting, impacting aspiring musicians of all ages, and supports local causes through his album sales. 

Learn more about Michael: https://www.michaeldaughtrymusic.com/

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Tim Ellis is the esteemed curator and chief creator for Photography by Tim Ellis. He uses his art to inspire Black culture and celebrate the leaders in his community. His works celebrate black culture and include images from his personal project “Saddle and Soul” focused on preserving the vibrant history and celebrating the enduring culture of Black Cowboys in America.

Follow Tim on Instagram, Facebook and find him online at www.photographybytimellis.com.

Susan Fecho is a versatile artist specializing in multi-media printmaking, surface design, and illustration. With an M.F.A. from ECU and a botanical illustrator certificate from NCBG, she brings over 40 years of teaching experience and a deep devotion to her craft. Fecho's artistic journey has taken her across the globe, exhibiting nationally and internationally while garnering numerous awards, grants, and residencies along the way. Rooted in Virginia and a long-term resident of North Carolina, Fecho's work is imbued with a profound connection to the natural world of North Carolina. Her impactful images have found homes in prestigious collections such as the Smithsonian Institution’s American Art Museum/National Portrait Gallery Library and the Victoria and Albert Museum in London. Beyond her artistic endeavors, Fecho's academic contributions have been featured in esteemed scientific journals, while her work has graced the pages of educational and inspirational publications. Fecho is currently a distinguished faculty member at Barton College, where she shares her wealth of knowledge and passion for the arts with students and fellow artists alike. Through her art and teaching, Fecho continues to inspire and enrich both local and global communities with her passion for creativity and connection to place.

Follow Susan on Instagram.

 Beth Hill, a Mount Olive, NC native, holds a BA in Art Education from UNC Chapel Hill (1972) and an MAEd from East Carolina University (1991). She has spent many summers studying at the Savannah College of Art and Design while participating in the Art Educator’s Forum. After 30 years of teaching art in North Carolina public schools, Beth now focuses on her painting, showcasing her work in numerous group and solo exhibitions and completing various public and private commissions, including murals in schools, state buildings, and churches. Her paintings are displayed in athletic facilities at UNC Chapel Hill, the University of South Carolina, and Elon University. Represented in several state Arts Council galleries and private galleries across North Carolina, her artwork often features nature and animals. She aims to inspire joy and serenity in viewers, stating, “I am inspired by God’s beautiful creation of life and nature… I hope it will bring them some sort of pleasure and serenity in this action-addicted and chaotic world.” 

T.J. Jackson a self-taught artist, born in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, was the second of five children. T.J. developed an interest in art at an early age, and he entered contests and created stage props for school plays. Art became a means of distraction for Timothy outside of sports. He drew everything he could see, including his favorite dinosaurs, cartoon characters, and portraits. When his mother married a local artist, Timothy became more interested in art and spent most of his free time in his stepfather's studio, watching him paint. It wouldn't be until 2018 that T.J. would pursue painting.

In the summer of his 11th grade year, Timothy received an invitation to an open house at The Art Institute of Houston, Texas, and he was thrilled to attend. However, his mother was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer, and he had to stay back. After his mother passed away in 2004, Timothy surrounded himself with art and drew portraits for his co-workers, friends, and people across the country who saw his artwork on social media sites. Until recently, Timothy's art medium was drawing with charcoal and pencil. When he began painting in 2018, his subjects were mainly abstract and doodles, allowing Timothy to learn colors and brushstrokes. His recent paintings led to his first art gallery appearance at the Sampson Arts Council. Timothy is still on a journey of learning techniques and honing his skills with the goal of selling his art worldwide.

Josiah King is an accomplished artist and teacher from North Carolina, known for his paintings that capture interesting yet often unnoticed moments from everyday life. His work has been exhibited in prestigious venues such as the North Carolina Museum of Art, the North Carolina Contemporary Art Museum, the United States Capitol Building, and the Erie Art Museum. He received special honors in the Self, Observed juried exhibition and is a recipient of the Congressional Art Award, which earned him a year-long exhibition spot in the Congressional Building in Washington D.C. King's paintings have been featured in Chimera 13 Art Journal and on the cover of Voices Journal. He is a full-time Art Instructor at Sampson Community College in Clinton, North Carolina, and maintains a studio space in downtown Clinton.

Follow Josiah on Social Media: https://linktr.ee/josiahking.art 

Loretta Langdon is an acclaimed artist known for her vibrant acrylic paintings, capturing pastoral scenes and intricate floral compositions. With a distinguished career marked by numerous awards, including first place in the 2020 Johnston County Arts Council Art Festival, Loretta's work has been showcased in various exhibitions across North Carolina. Her pieces, celebrated for their detail and charm, reflect a deep connection to the rural landscapes and natural beauty of her surroundings. Loretta continues to inspire art lovers with her compelling storytelling through art.

Keith O. McLaurin is a North Carolinian Painter who stalks celebrities on canvas and donates to various charities to increase awareness of good causes. His work explores religion, politics, isolation, and personal relationships. His vibrant style is introduced to the world as “Vibe Art.” McLaurin owns over 400 original paintings between the years of 2002 until now.

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Devi is a ceramic artist based in Wilmington, NC. She graduated from Fayetteville State University in 2017 with a Bachelor’s degree in Visual Arts, concentrating in sculpture. Following graduation, she apprenticed with a production potter, trading work hours for a kiln and wheel. With this new equipment, she relocated to Newton Grove, NC, where she established her own studio and launched 27 Sisters Studio.

Devi's functional ceramics often feature images of human organs intertwined with floral patterns or octopus tentacles on everyday items. Her current sculptural work explores abstract representations of human anatomy, transforming them into creatures that embody emotional metaphors.

Follow Devi on Instagram and Facebook. 

Rev. Bobby L. Simmons, Sr., featured artist for Whitestone International Art, brings a wealth of artistic training and passion to his work. A graduate of East Carolina University with a BFA in painting and drawing and certification in arts education, he has dedicated himself to creating impactful images that resonate deeply with viewers. Rev. Simmons' art, showcased by Whitestone International Art, is a testament to his ability to capture profound moments and emotions, offering a gift to the world through his expressive and meaningful creations.

Follow Rev. Simmons on Facebook. 

 Heather B. Williams, a native of western North Carolina, is both an accomplished artist and a high school math teacher. She graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1995 with a degree in Studio Art and later earned an associate's degree in Furniture Design and Development from Catawba Valley Community College in 1997. After several years in the furniture industry, during which she traveled to countries like India, China, and France, Heather took time off to raise her three children. She has since continued her artistic pursuits, working across multiple mediums—including oils, acrylics, watercolor, pastel, charcoal, and collage—while teaching art and dance. Since August 2023, she has been teaching math at North Duplin Jr/Sr High School. Inspired by the beauty of natural patterns and the changing light throughout the day, her work blends technical precision with a deep appreciation for nature's organic rhythms. 

Jeff Williams, woodcarver and sculptor, was born near Salemburg, NC, the eleventh of fourteen children. He is a contemporary folk artist who began carving as a teen, putting his work experience as a carpenter and mechanic to use in crafting sculpture with chainsaw, chisels, and files. After making small carvings for himself, he began carving large figural sculptures, one of which was seen in his father’s yard by the collector Robert Lynch who encouraged him. Jeff currently lives in Salemburg.

Jeff Williams has been represented by many galleries and museums: Robert Cargo Folk Art Gallery, Tuscaloosa, Alabama | Renee Fatouhi Fine Art, East Hampton, New York | The Lynch Collection of Outsider Art, North Carolina Wesleyan College, Rocky Mount, NC | African-American Folk Art from the collection of Dr. A. Everett James in 1991 at Fisk University, Nashville, Tennessee | Hickory Museum of Art, DISCOVER FOLK ART: Unique Visions by Southern Self-Taught Artists, Hickory, NC | NC Museum of Art - Signs and Wonders: Outsider Art Inside North Carolina, 1989 exhibit