The Mural Artists

Peter Carey

Peter Carey of Punta Gorda, is an internationally recognized muralist and scenic artist, having worked with David Hockney, the L.A. Opera, Disney, Universal Studios, PBS and Hard Rock Café. Carey has public and private murals in Punta Gorda and pen and ink artwork for sale at Works by Hand in Fisherman’s Village.

Richard Currier

Richard Currier of Micco, FL, is a native of southwest Florida and a 1981 graduate of the Ringling School of Art & Design. He began mural work as a theatrical stage artist. He is a recipient of many regional and national award and has murals in Atlanta, GA and Lake Placid, FL.

Clare Harvey

Clare Harvey of Port Charlotte artistic interest was piqued at age 8. That was when Clare knew she was an artist. After receiving an Associate in Fine Arts, she continued to study a spectrum of art ranging from human anatomy to glass blowing at the Toledo Museum of Art. Clare currently directs the Visual Art Center Plein Air Painters in Punta Gorda, and teaches adult Acrylic Painting and youth art at the North Port Art Center.

Tom Graham

Tom Graham of Punta Gorda, in 1992 won an open competition in a community mural contest. When that endeavor failed to materialize, the PGHMS selected Tom for its first mural, as he had been the peoples’ choice.

Gary Grindell

Gary Grindell of Alva, FL, was raised in Cape Cod, MA. He is a graphic artist, a successful architectural rendering artist and landscape artist. Gary’s assistant is renowned artist and Ft. Myers resident Molly Kelley. She has created works of fine art since her childhood in Cincinnati.

John Gutcher

John Gutcher of Tampa, FL, was born in Pembroke, Ontario, Canada. After attending a commercial and fine arts school in Hamilton he became a commercial printer and owned his own print shop in Tampa. His credits include five murals in Lake Placid, FL and three in Punta Gorda, FL.

Fran Hines

Fran Hines of Punta Gorda, studied art at Vesper George School, New England School of Art and Boston Museum School of Art. She is an art instructor, judges shows, gives workshops and operates her own business, Technical Illustration. She has won numerous ribbons and awards for paintings and her work is in several private and public collections.

Liz Hutchinson

Liz Hutchinson of Punta Gorda, graduated from the College of William and Mary. Her art education includes the Columbus College of Art and Design and classes at the Ringling School of Art & Design. In 1999 Liz opened Red Hat Studio in Punta Gorda, which offers classes in oil and acrylic painting, stained glass and mural design.

Charles Peck

Charles Peck of Charlotte Harbor, earned a B.F.A. in drawing and painting from F.S.U. on the G.I. Bill. He has worked as a traveling portrait sketch artist and plein air painter and has murals in Port Huron, MI and Tallahassee, Arcadia and Lake Placid, FL. Charles teaches at the Visual Arts Center in Punta Gorda.

Fran Petrow

Fran Petrow of Punta Gorda, is a self taught artist as well as a licensed realtor and registered nurse. She paints with a unique lighting style that reflects her intense awareness of the world around her. Abstracts and landscapes in bright vibrant colors, as well as subjects of nature are trademarks of her work. Fran’s oil paintings are on display in both public and private collections.

Jack Reto

Jack Reto of Port Charlotte, FL, attended the Art Institute of Pittsburgh and Carnegie Mellon University. In Atlantic City, NJ he designed and built displays and parade floats for pageants like Miss America and the Philadelphia Thanksgiving Day Parade. Jack has his own graphic design and mural business.

Magda "Maggie" Ruiz

Magda “Maggie” Ruiz of Punta Gorda, is an artist as well as an art teacher. A native of Puerto Rico and avid traveler, Maggie has developed a love and expertise of light and color. There is an emotional presence in her art. Maggie’s work is included in some of the most comprehensive collections in the country.

Michael Vires

Michael Vires of Port Charlotte and Punta Gorda, is a self taught artist. His landscape, portrait and still life paintings are in private collections all across America, including Hawaii.

Edwin Wang-Ah Yip

Edwin Wang-Ah Yip of Coconut Creek, FL, was born in Hong Kong and educated in Chinese fine art. In the U. S. he’s been a successful mural artist, jewelry and wallpaper designer. He has degrees from the Hong Kong Buddhist College of Fine Art and certificates from the Royal Drawing Society in London and the school of Visual Arts, NY.