Beth Nilges-Nehamkin

Fine Arts Artist

“I am a 1976 graduate of the Cleveland Institute of Art, majoring in print making. My teacher, Carroll Cassill, gave me the support, guidance, and freedom to grow and develop my own artistic language. My main influences for my art come from nature, poetry, and spiritual readings. Sketchbooks have always played an important role in the evolvement of my art. From nature comes spirituality and an inner vision.

I grew up in the then-rustic Bay Village where I completely immersed myself in the surrounding nature while walking dogs and riding horses. Huntington Park was a favorite refuge and Huntington Beach, Lake Erie, was where my love of sunrises began. My husband Randall and I have been married 37 years. We live in a self-designed 3-story farmhouse near West Farmington, with 2 dogs and 2 cats. My studio is on the 3rd floor, which is filled with light and overlooks an inspiring rural countryside.

Before retiring to work full time at my art, I worked part time jobs at pet stores, horse stables and with the disabled, all jobs very inspiring for my art, while still leaving me time daily to develop my art. I was an Artist-In-Residence at Lake Erie College where I enjoyed teaching and giving Monotype Workshops for students and the public. I was a regular exhibitor in B.K. Smith Gallery in their Fine Arts Building.

Many of the flora and fauna in my paintings have been inspired by twenty-one annual trips to St. John in the United States Virgin Islands, where I filled a sketchbook over the years with paintings that later found their way into subsequent larger paintings. I have developed an extensive line of fine art prints and greeting cards which may be purchased at Artisans Gallery in Newbury, and Fiddlehead Gallery near Shaker Square.

My work is intuitive and spontaneously done. My own inner guide dictates my color and form. I work until the spiritual journey is complete and the vision is revealed. This is often a long journey in time, with much detail involved. Dots of color play a major role.

They are the life-beat I hear from within, each dot an essential single note in the symphony of overall piece.

My work has been shown extensively at galleries and juried art shows, with many awards, in northeast Ohio, California, & St. John U.S.V.I. for the past 46 years.”