Discover Artists
Shown below is a list of area artists who are members of United Arts Collier.
Please note: All images are copyrighted by the artist. Reproduction of them is illegal without written permission from the artist.


Christine Cook‘s award winning photographic art is known for its dramatic scenes and fascinating characters, both human and animal. Her images evoke thought and emotion from the viewer. Enjoy longed-for vistas, interesting characters, imaginary places and intense beauty.

Christine Otis is a visual artist whose work ranges from painting, photography, mixed media, digital art, pattern designs, teaching to writing and editing. Her work incorporates many forms from graphic design to abstract to sci-fi.

My name is Christine Lee Wickel and I am a retired teacher turned Alcohol Ink artist! The colorful floral abstract paintings you will find on this website are inspired by my surroundings in Southwest Florida. My style emanates from my ability to discern concrete forms in abstract settings.
This phenomenon is called Pareidolia. Seeing an elephant in the clouds is an example.I developed my passion for painting through my art minor at Longwood University and continued to take art courses and workshops throughout my life.
Since its introduction in 2016, Alcohol Inks have been used primarily as a crafters material creating cards and holiday ornaments. Since 2018 these inks have slowly gained popularity and are emerging as a serious fine art medium.I am passionate about working with these vibrant, unpredictable inks as they inspire me to “think out of the box".
Please take some time to explore my site and contact me with any questions.

Christy Noonan I think of myself as an abstract painter. My vision in painting is to bridge the physical forms in Nature with the formulas of movement and light on canvas.I studied Art at Luther College in Decorah, Iowa and later continued my formal studies through the N.Y. Studio school workshops, in Naples and with Hollis Jeffcoat, once Director of the Paris Division and founder of The Silver Tree School of Painting and Drawing.As an artist, “The need is for the connection to nature within ourselves; only then can we understand how to act towards nature outside ourselves.”

A Legendary Photographer and National Treasure
The scale and extraordinary clarity of his work sets it apart as exceptional. In the tradition of the nineteenth-century Hudson River School painters, Clyde composes his works at pristine and untarnished locations across the United States, creating arresting compositions that distinctly mark him as the foremost landscape photographer in America today.
Clyde has been called the next Ansel Adams by Popular Photography magazine, awarded as a humanitarian for acting for the betterment of his community, and recognized as a conservationist for bringing issues to the forefront of public consciousness through his art. His photography transcends political boundaries, challenging us to work together to protect natural places across the globe.
Butcher’s journey began with a humble origin, born in Kansas City, Mo. in 1942, the only child to a sheet-metal worker. As a child, he spent most of his time drawing boat designs and crafting ship prototypes from scrap metal.
Butcher graduated with a degree in architecture from California Polytechnic State University. It was then that he discovered his inability to draw architectural designs. To rectify this he taught himself photography, enabling him to photograph (rather than draw) his architectural models for presentations. Unable to afford a store-bought camera, he made himself a crude, but dependable pinhole camera.
Niki Vogel and Clyde married in 1963. He saw an Ansel Adams Photography exhibit at Yosemite National Park, and was so impressed by Adams’ work that he began to photograph landscapes in black and white. Clyde left the architecture field in 1970 and began exhibiting his black and white photographs at art festivals...
Read more at his website.

Col. William C. Boling, retired Air Force officer, international nature photographer and PPA member has photographed wildlife, landscape and macro on all seven continents. He consults with a network of other professional nature photographers in Europe, South America, and elsewhere for prime locations for his work. His website is: PhotoByBo.com

contemporary abstract painter – headed to our new art studio in Tanzania, East Africa, to paint with a whole new set of inspirations! Also developing art safari workshops

Cynthia Taft looks for human connections in her street and urban scenes, celebrating moments of shared emotions. Whether in Naples or New York City or other cities, her photographs capture interesting light, urban design, and architecture to highlight the beauty of the scene and convey the emotion of people connecting and living their lives.
Dani Papanikolaou (or Papa for short) is a mixed media painter and sketchbook artist that explores saturation and line in a variety of forms, usually with nude figures as his vehicle for expression. Papa’s style and aesthetic is inspired by urban tribalism, Neo-Expressionism, abstraction, action painters, and street art, with an exploration in mark-making and color dissonance. As a live painting performer, Papa transcends improv to instinct with each canvas and practice.
Dani Papa has been an educator, mentor, and community leader for the past eight years while residing in southwest Florida. His long-term goals reside in continuing education, essentially branching off into the university realm and philanthropic efforts once Papa finishes his MFA in Painting online at Savannah College of Art & Design (SCAD).

My work is influenced by painters I’ve admired for years from Holbein to Koons. Van Eyck to Freud.I’m also very fond of the painters that I studied as a young man. Painters like Motherwell, Stella, Riley, Johns, and Rothko.In some ways their type of painting is much more honest and the essence of painting. Rather than a fake attempt to suggest a three dimensional world on a two dimensional canvas.

Florida enriches my desire to capture the colors and beauty with photos and express what I have seen on canvas.
I am a self-taught artist. I have painted since junior high. I love to paint in oils or acrylics the beautiful Gulf, sunsets, flowers, or whatever a client may have an idea for a piece or a photograph for a painting.
Recently I have expanded into abstract or expression painting. I love working with a variety is beautiful and bright colors. Especially to make a “happy” painting.

Debbie W Nelson earned a BA Degree in History of Art from Emory University in Atlanta, Ga.
Debbie had a lifetime career as a wildlife conservationist, as C0-founder and C0-Director of “Kangaroo Conservation Center”, which was a conservation park and educational facility North of Atlanta, Georgia until 2013. Her facility housed the largest collection of kangaroos outside of Australia in natural environments, as well as numerous other wildlife species from Africa, Asia and South America. She enjoyed the educational aspect of teaching the importance of conservation and introducing animal species on numerous television shows around the world. The Center was a long-time member of AZA, the Association of Zoos and Aquariums and was a recipient of the “2002 International Conservation Award” from the Association for creating and supporting a safe wild habitat in Papua New Guinea for endangered tree kangaroos, as well as for the successful captive breeding of endangered Matschie’s Tree Kangaroos at her Center in Georgia. Her love of animals and support of effective wildlife conservation continues even though she no longer works in the field. She credits her wildlife paintings to showing the animal's personality, in a positive light due to her years of establishing close relationships with many animals of various species.
She was honored to be awarded 3rd place in the international Endangered Fine Art & Photography Competition in Miami, Florida, in December 2019 for her painting “Sarus Cranes”. Her art has been exhibited at festivals and competitions across South Florida. She chooses to exhibit at festivals in her home base, Florida, although her clients range across the USA.
Debbie grew up in Naples and returned in recent years to live here full-time. As an outdoor enthusiast, she enjoys the tropical environment for both fauna and flora.

Deborah Martin‘s current medium of choice is Encaustic. My encaustic surfaces are labored and develop over time. I try to preserve what’s underneath while creating something new with each layer. By scraping wax away, my process turns into an excavation, discovering colors, textures and images.

After moving to Florida from NY, I began adding florals and nature into my repertoire but my style varies with my mood and what’s happening in and around me. Lack of a consistent style and subject matter has been an obstacle in the past, now I see it as an asset.”
Donna Babcock‘s painting styles range from the most conservative, traditional landscapes, still lifes and portraits, to the most contemporary, non-objective interpretation of life and our lovely world. She also designs posters, logos and promotional materials.

Dora Knuteson is a Naples artist specializing in tropical, floral and coastal themes. Her work – inspired by the sunshine and beautiful beaches of southwest Florida – is characterized by its lively brushwork and complex layering of unique color. Artwork can be purchased online at doraknuteson.com or in person by appointment.

My photography journey has taken me from a simple hobby as a kid to the present digital age and social media outlets where I can share my photography vision with others to enjoy.

As I travel and shoot I work to create photographic Fine Art works that elicit a visceral reaction with my audience.This "Wow" factor opens the door to conversations raising the awareness of environmental and worldwide issues.As a Master Naturalist, my dream is to get people to respect and be moved to action by my work.. To join with others and get involved in saving the Ecosystems and wildlife that surround us before it is too late.
The importance of light and composition are two skills I am always working to improve. As well as capturing birds in flight. These take continuous practice and evaluation.

Dusty Holmes works with stoneware clay. Her pieces are hand built, using a slab which she painstakingly molds and shapes using various tools and techniques, giving her pieces form, function and beauty. Dusty says ” my work is greatly influenced by Mother Nature. I find the lines and textures found in nature are very complimentary to the clay itself.”

I work in oils and although I paint primarily landscapes and florals, some of my favorite paintings have been of pet pups. As an octogenarian, I am so fortunate to have such a wonderful and challenging activity that adds such joy to my life.

A native Florida artist, Emily has received recognition of her talent through numerous awards and honors. She was selected as the official artist of the tournament for master golfers held in Georgia each Spring. Emily is the only artist in the United States selected by the top three fine art publishers, and two of her images have been among the top 50 selling prints worldwide. She has exhibited at the High Museum in Atlanta, and was selected as an Outstanding American Woman in the Arts. Emily is a signature member of the Florida Watercolor Society, accepted into Watercolor U.S.A., and featured in the book, The Best of Watercolor.

Emme Eve started painting like many of us, as a child. That is when she fell in love with the process of creating. “I have a hard time choosing one medium because they all excite me, I’d love to try glassblowing, and even something like metal sculpture.Primarily a self-taught artist, taking classes and workshops around the world: Tokyo, Italy, Seattle, Boston, San Francisco, Bali, France, Mexico, and spending a lot of time in museums. Emme loves an artistic challenge and is always pushing herself to be a better artist. Inspired by Andy Warhol, Basquiat, Lichtenstein, Frida Kahlo, Picasso, and so many unknown artists around the world.