Sonia Reid Biography scroll down to view works

Sonia Reid has always been an animal lover and enjoyed the beauty found in nature. Born in Cullman, AL, in 1964, raised and educated in Gardendale, AL, she attended Auburn University for 5 years (where she met her loving husband Chip). She graduated from Winthrop College in Rock Hill, SC, in 1988 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree. She worked as an Interior Designer for 8 years before deciding to paint wildlife full-time.

Years ago, she went to Africa to fulfill a lifetime dream. She went with 12 others on a 17-day workshop in Tanzania, camping in the Serengeti during the migration and visiting the famous Ngorongoro Crater. Every year, her desire to return to Africa has increased. It became a passion and something she must do. She has traveled to Africa many times and goes to a new location each time, loving all that Africa has to offer.

“When I return to the studio, as I look at the many images that result from my trips, I again feel the emotions and remember each moment. I strive to capture in my paintings what I went to Africa to do. My mission is to record the story and pass the message along; a message of preservation, protection, and celebration of wildlife.”

Creating this art has become Sonia’s energy, inspiration, and passion since 1996. Sonia moved with her family (She has a son, Dylan, and a daughter, Samantha) in 2006 to colorful Colorado and has enjoyed the western lifestyle. She has begun a new adventure series in her paintings, traveling yearly to the wild places in the west. She has seen the wild mustangs and the beautiful fall seasons with the elk, deer, and big horn sheep ruts in the Rockies. She has visited Yellowstone and the Tetons many times and endeavors to travel each summer to as many national and state parks as time allows. She RV’s with her family and dogs as often as possible and does many photo workshops involving art and wildlife. Most recently, she has added wild and domestic horses to her work, which goes back to the beginning; her first love of art was drawing horses as a child.

Since painting wildlife full time, she has exhibited at numerous shows, including the prestigious Birds in Art Show in Wausau, WI, Pac Rim Show in Seattle, WA, and the Southeastern Wildlife Expo in Charleston, SC winning awards along the way. However, her happiest moments are when her paintings connect with others who share that passion and understand her story.

Oil and graphite are the mediums Sonia chooses to portray her inspiration. She is also an avid photographer and collects books on wildlife.