About the Artist
Robert De May is a self-taught watercolor artist based in Stephenson, Virginia. Since picking up a brush in 2021, he has developed a distinctive style that captures the quiet beauty of rural life, wildlife, and the natural landscapes of the Shenandoah Valley and beyond.
Credentials & highlights
- Self-taught watercolor artist painting since 2021
- Based in Stephenson, Virginia — inspired by the Shenandoah Valley
- Commissions accepted for wildlife, horses, pets, and landscapes
- Originals and prints available in multiple sizes with framing options
Robert De May came to watercolor painting in 2021 — and what began as a personal pursuit quickly became a passion. Working entirely self-taught, he has developed a body of work that spans rural farm scenes, wildlife portraits, coastal seascapes, and the seasonal landscapes of the Virginia countryside.
Living in Stephenson, Virginia, Robert finds constant inspiration in the world around him — the red barns and rolling pastures of the Shenandoah Valley, the birds and animals that inhabit the region, and the ever-changing light across the Blue Ridge Mountains.
Each painting is built up through careful layers of transparent watercolor washes, allowing light to reflect back through the paper and give the work its characteristic luminosity. Robert's approach is patient and observational — he paints what he loves, and it shows.
Robert's work is available as original paintings and high-quality prints in a range of sizes and framing options. He also welcomes commissions for custom portraits of wildlife, horses, pets, and beloved places.
"I paint what I love — and I love what surrounds me here in Virginia. Every painting is my way of sharing that."
— Robert De May
Art That Brings the Natural World Home
De May Studios exists to share the beauty of Virginia's landscapes, wildlife, and rural life through the timeless medium of watercolor. Every painting is created with care, patience, and a deep love for the subject — made to be lived with and enjoyed for years to come.