FROM DESIGN TO CANVAS: Heidi-Lee Peach Finds Her Voice in Coastal Light

Standing at the intersection of design and fine art, Heidi-Lee Peach has spent a lifetime chasing beauty through color, light, and form. What began as a childhood passion—nurtured by a father who painted outdoors and a school principal who once framed her drawing—has evolved into a vibrant career as a painter whose work radiates joy and connection. After 15 years as a professional interior designer, Heidi-Lee has returned to her first love: the canvas, where landscapes, coastal waters, and plein air scenes come alive in rich, expressive hues.

For Heidi-Lee Peach, art has always been more than a practice—it’s been a way of seeing the world. Her journey began in childhood, when she watched her father paint en plein air or work on commissioned pieces in his home studio. One of her earliest memories of recognition came in elementary school, when her principal framed her rendition of a Van Gogh portrait. “That was the first time I realized art could live beyond a sketchbook,” she recalls. “It gave me the confidence to keep creating.”

After earning her BFA from the Maryland Institute College of Art in Baltimore, Heidi-Lee spent 15 years building a successful career as an interior architect and designer. Yet, the pull of painting never left her. “Design taught me balance and structure,” she explains. “But painting allows me freedom—the ability to chase light, color, and emotion in a way design never could.”

Her work spans a wide range of mediums, including watercolor, acrylic, gouache, charcoal, pen and ink, and oil. While rooted in realism, Heidi-Lee isn’t afraid to bend color for emotional effect. Monochromatic nocturnes glow with drama, while plein air studies vibrate with the energy of light playing across land and water.

A New Chapter by the Sea

Now, Heidi-Lee is embarking on a new body of work inspired by water—its moods, its colors, and the way it makes her feel most alive. From Hawaii to the Caribbean, Seattle to Spain, she has gathered inspiration from coastlines around the world. These travels will flow into her upcoming series of coastal-water paintings: luminous, bright, and full of movement.

“Being near water changes me—it’s calming, it’s invigorating, it’s where I feel most connected to myself,” she says. “My new paintings are about capturing that feeling, so that someone else can feel it too when they look at the work.”

Her Heart2Hands Art Gallery remains her anchor studio, but 2026 will be a year of movement—splitting time between Wilmington and Raleigh, traveling for residencies, and deepening her connection to the coastal arts community. In January, she’ll join the prestigious No Boundaries International Art Residency on Bald Head Island, immersing herself for two weeks in the landscapes that continue to fuel her creativity. She and her husband also look forward to settling in Wilmington full-time when he retires.

Rooted in Community, Inspired by Nature

Painting outdoors is central to Heidi-Lee’s practice. Since 2020, she has been a familiar face at plein air events such as the Azalea Home and Garden Tour and Wrightsville Harbor Way Gardens. This spring, she’ll add Southport’s plein air festival to her calendar. For her, painting on location is both grounding and connective. “When you’re outdoors, you’re responding to light in real time,” she says. “It keeps you present—and there’s nothing more rewarding than having someone stop to talk about what you’re painting while you’re still in the moment of making it.”

She also remains deeply involved in the broader arts community. Heidi-Lee is a member of the North Carolina Watercolor Society and participates in art leagues across Wilmington, Leland, and Cary, all while maintaining ties to Clayton’s vibrant creative scene. Ever curious, she continues to grow her practice by attending workshops, experimenting with abstract techniques, and challenging herself with new mediums.

Where to Find Her Work

Her paintings can be found in galleries across central and eastern North Carolina, including a permanent collection at Skylines Café in Clayton. In Wilmington, she now has a dedicated artist wall at Fine Art Local, a downtown gallery where her newest pieces take center stage. Later this fall, she’ll open a duo exhibition at the Clayton Center, unveiling large-scale works infused with the color and energy of her coastal travels.

At the heart of it all, Heidi-Lee Peach’s art is about joy, healing, and connection. “Art has always been my way of finding peace and sharing it,” she says. “If a painting makes someone pause, breathe, and feel something good—that’s everything I hope for.”

Heidi-Lee Peach is currently showing with Fine Art Local in downtown Wilmington. To explore more of her work, visit fineartlocal.com and heart2hands.art.