Ellen grew up in an Air Force family and has lived throughout the United States. She lived and painted in Maine for many years before moving to the San Francisco Bay Area, where she now resides. She finds the California light and landscape very different from that of New England, but loves to paint both. Ellen paints in oil, acrylic, and watercolor. After teaching art in Maine for 24 years, she retired and moved with her husband to sunny, warm California, where she has shown with art associations, in galleries, and at juried shows, and won many awards.

Art is a very important part of her life, and even as a child she always knew she wanted to be an artist. She is happiest when she is in her studio, outside painting, or browsing a museum or gallery. Figurative painting was her main interest for several years, and she now paints primarily landscapes and some abstracts.

Ellen has a BS in Art Education from the University of Maine and an MA from the Rhode Island School of Design.