Laney Hicks

Laney was born in Denver, CO and has been art making since she was a little girl. At age 13 her mother enrolled her in a drawing class from the Famous Artist Correspondence School.

Laney continued creating art through high school and then attended Denver University where she studied commercial art. After college, Laney began illustrating biology textbooks, using her understanding of and appreciation for animals. Laney specifically credits her mother as a guiding influence for her interest in animals. From an early age, she drew the animals around her house, including a pet mourning dove she and her brother recovered.

In the mid 1980s, Laney began to paint exclusively animals, wildlife, and landscapes. Laney's unique style combines the abstract with the real. She places an emphasis on graphic design and Oriental simplicity. In terms of composition, Laney states, "you need to decide what you want to say, and then let nature dictate how you paint it."

Laney believes in the importance of observing animals in the wild because it provides the opportunity to better experience the movement, behavior, and intellect of each creature. In her work, Laney combines her childhood experience, affinity for animals, and recent scientific research to produce art that will help people appreciate animals.