Valerie Aune is an internationally recognized and award-winning artist. Her works in oil and watercolor are shown and collected around the world. She also recently completed a month-long residency at the Art Students League of New York.

Aune’s art career was jumpstarted in 1999 when two of her paintings were accepted for exhibition and sale in Sotheby’s of London. One of the paintings was purchased by a New York Gallery and used for a national ad campaign.

Since that time, she has won several best of show awards, exhibited in several international group exhibitions in the UK, had a painting selected for Artist Magazine Top 100 paintings, National Oil and Acrylic Painters Society Best of America 2004, Rising Star Award and in 2006 had 4 bird paintings accepted in the 19th International Animals in Art.

A 20-year resident of Pensacola, she teaches and paints in her North Hill studio, working in a variety of media and styles.

“While painting, I set an alarm to remind me when it is time to stop and pay attention to the rest of life,” says Aune.

“Ideas for paintings are always floating around in my head,” she says. “Any little bit of glass or ray of light or feathers on the sidewalk might spark an idea. Everything is beautiful when contemplated in paint.”