Sandy Byers  was born in Monterey, California in 1956 in a house a few blocks from the beaches of Seventeen Mile Drive. Though she did not live there long, the water she was born close to was the beginning of a lifelong bond with the sea. The daughter of a Navy officer, Byers’ younger years were spent moving often with her family. The most adventurous of which was a move, at age eight, to Cannes on the French Riviera. On the family’s trans-Atlantic return trip aboard the Leonardo da Vinci, they were tossed about in high seas as their cruise-liner tried, in vain, to rescue the British freighter Ambassador as she sank in turbulent waters a thousand miles off the coast of New York. Even this tragic experience could not wane Byers’ love of the sea.

Showing a strong and earnest interest in drawing from a young age was proof enough for Byers’ parents that Sandy would likely do well in private oil painting lessons. With the first stroke of her brush, Byers’ passion for painting began. Her natural style was of a realistic nature and it is what she is still known for today.

As a young adult, Byers pursued a career in the software industry and continued painting as time allowed.  Her retirement from the software industry in 2002 enabled her to pursue a full-time art career and she began honing her pastel skills. In 2004, Byers entered her first competition: The Pastel Journal’s Pastel 100 Competition. She won two awards in that juried competition and continues to gain acceptance and win awards in juried shows. Her works have been published in numerous magazines and hardbound books.

Although Byers has produced works in a variety of media, her current focus is working with oils and pastels. Many of her landscape and seascape paintings include scenes from her local area on Whidbey Island, in Washington State. Byers is also well known for her heartfelt and expressive paintings of animals and she is passionately dedicated to supporting animal welfare organizations.

Signature Member
Pastel Society of America
Pastel Society of the West Coast
Northwest Pastel Society
Member
Oil Painters of America

SELECTED EXHIBITIONS / SHOWS
Brackenwood Gallery / Langley WA
Cole Gallery / Edmonds WA
Scott Milo Gallery / Anacortes WA
Howard Mandville Gallery/Kirkland WA
American Art Gallery/Tacoma WA
Blue Horse Gallery / Bellingham WA
Haggin Museum/ Stockton CA
Richeson Gallery / Kimberly WI
American Art Gallery / Tacoma WA
Harbor Gallery / Gig Harbor WA
The Arts Building Gallery /Auburn CA
Planet Bronze Gallery / Bozeman MT
Kirsten Gallery / Seattle WA
Washington State Convention Center/Seattle WA
San Louis Obispo Art Center / San Louis Obispo CA

CORPORATE WORKS
Northern Ohio / Pettit College of Law / Ada, OH
Providence Regional Medical Center / Everett, WA
Standard Chartered Bank / Shanghai China
PUBLICATIONS/Awards
2014 Art Renewal Center Finalist, International Salon Competition
2014 Pastel Journal, Pastel 100, Honorable Mention
2013 JAVMA cover (Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association)
2013 Flowers in Art, Schiffer Publishing
2013 Pastel Journal, Pastel 100, Juror (Jurors’ article, April 2013)
2012 Pastel Journal, Pastel 100, 1st Place Award, April 2012
2012 Richeson75 Pastel Hardbound Book, Finalist / 3 pieces and 3rd Place Award
2012 Richeson75 Pastel Hardbound Book, 3 pieces / Meritorious Awards
2011 The Artist’s Magazine, 28th Annual Competition Finalist
2011 NW Pastel Society at Kirsten, Director’s Choice Award
2010 The Pastel Journal, Pastel 100 Competition Finalist
2009 The Artists’ Magazine, (December) Competition Finalist
2009 The Pastel Journal, Pastel 100 Competition Finalist
2009 Richeson 75: Pastels, hardbound book
2008 The Pastel Journal Article: Animal Attraction
2008 Richeson 75: Artists’ Choice, hardbound book
2008 Richeson 75: Figure and Portrait, hardbound book
2008 Richeson 75: Still Life & Floral, hardbound book
2007 The Pastel Journal, Pastel 100 Competition Finalist
2007 Richeson 75: Still Life
2007 Richeson 75: Landscape and Exteriors, hardbound book
2006 The Pastel Journal, Pastel 100 Competition Finalist
2004 The Pastel Journal, Pastel 100 Competition 2 Awards