Mary Kay West is a native of Asheville, North Carolina and is the daughter of watercolorist Elizabeth Phillips. Mary Kay began painting as a child next to her mother’s easel. Her diverse interests have led her to express her artistic abilities in a variety of settings including set design for theater, mural painting, costume design and clothing design as well as jewelry and accessory design. Painting, however, has been her continuing passion.

In 2006, Mary Kay completed a four year apprenticeship with Ben Long and John Mac Kah at the Fine Arts League of Asheville specializing in still life. Mary Kay currently lives and paints in Los Alamos, California. She is now most well known for her portrayal of birds and still life.

She is an artist member of the California Art Club and has exhibited several years in their Gold Medal Exhibition in Pasadena. This is one of the most important exhibitions of representational and realist work in California and the US, and represents highly renowned painters and sculptors.

Her original works may be seen here at Solvang Antiques, in Portico Gallery, Montecito, California, Classic Art Gallery in Carmel, California, Vault Gallery in Cambria, California, and on the El Paseo Art Walk in Palm Desert, California.