Natalie was born in Scotland Neck, North Carolina in 1972 and graduated from Guilford College in 1995 with a B.A. in Visual Art.  During her sophomore year she studied in Italy for a semester, on the grounds of a medieval castle surrounded by steep vineyards.  Based in the Alpine Tyrol region, she enjoyed proximity to Florence, Venice, Rome, Munich, Vienna, Paris, and other towns of artistic significance, studying the rich history and beauty of western European painting and sculpture.  Natalie later became aware of the classical realism art movement, and was inspired by San Francisco artist Will Wilson's work.  She sought instruction in drawing in the manner of the European masters of realism, studying directly with classical realism painter D. Jeffrey Mims before Mims Studios was founded in Southern Pines, North Carolina.  From there, Natalie's progression as an artist has come about through continuous studying and painting.