Onne van der Wal

For the past 30 years, Rhode Island’s world-renown photographer Onne van der Wal has traveled between tropical destinations and icy reaches of the globe in search of breathtaking photo opportunities. He mixes scenes from the nautical world with dramatic backdrops to create his award-winning images. Formerly a professional yacht racer, Onne (pronounced On-ah) found his passion for photography while competing in the Whitbread Round-the-World Race as a member of Dutch entry, Flyer; his dramatic images of this global marathon launched his successful marine photography career. Today, Onne prefers to chase light and beautiful scenery found in picturesque coves, action-packed regattas, and bustling nautical towns around the world— including his hometown of Newport. See more of his stunning work at his studio and retail gallery in Newport, or at his website.

Susan Fellows

Susan Fellows of East Side Studios was born in Salem, Massachusetts, and spent much of her childhood on the beaches of the North shore. She now lives with her husband and two children on Cape Cod and is inspired daily by one of New England’s most beautiful shorelines. A graduate of Curry College for Visual Arts, Susan also attended New England School of Art and Design and the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD), where she completed a certificate in children's book Illustration. Over the last decade, she has worked on murals and decorative finishes and she combines her love for art and the sea into tiny canvases of seaside views—hoping to share the joy she experiences every time she visits the ocean.

Matthew S. Hall

Matthew S. Hall of Matthew Hall Originals enjoyed making things inspired by nature as a child. He grew up on a 12-acre Vermont farm and spent many days exploring the brooks, fields, and forests—looking for inspiration in the natural world. With minimal resources but plenty of tools and time at his disposal, he taught himself to make his own toys. Shortly after graduating from CCRI, he built a portfolio of his artwork and drawings to apply to RISD as a transfer student. Now a RISD grad, he has started his own business that produces products that range from jewelry to accessories, home décor, and more. You can visit his website to see the work he creates right here in Rhode Island.

Ed McAloon

Inspiration for Ed McAloon’s stained glass work comes from his seaside surroundings, as well as vintage graphic design and abstract concepts. Ed utilizes traditional kiln- fired glass staining techniques in much of his work. Numerous commissioned pieces have been completed for clients to their individual specifications. Ed was also inspired by viewing works of sculpture, which led him to master various kiln-forming techniques such as slumping (bending) and fusing glass. These kiln-formed pieces are then assembled into sculptural works in conjunction with reclaimed wood and various metals. Learn more about his work here.

Melonie Massa

Melonie Massa handcrafts Sailor’s Valentines, which date back to the 1800s, and Sailor’s Valentine–inspired accessories out of genuine natural seashells. She calls her one-of-a-kind creations "Mermaids Baubles." Her pieces may incorporate seaglass, seashells and other intriguing gifts from the sea. Melonie began creating her baubles from the sea in 2007 after she saw an exhibit of antique Sailor’s Valentines on display and was captivated by their romantic history and the exquisite artistry that went into each vintage framed piece. She creates them all from her home studio, located in Bristol, Rhode Island.

Cate Brown

Cate Brown is a marine photographer from southern New England who creates a transportive experience for viewers through her imagery of coastal locations and activities. Growing up in a small Rhode Island town, Cate has been enveloped by a love for the sea since her youth. She developed an interest in sailing and still imagery at a young age and continually draws on insights from years of coastal living to deliver captivating photographs that draw her viewers into a world of sandy beaches and salty ocean waters. With a comprehensive photography catalog of images, Cate specializes in coastal & nautical photography—most notably junior sailing, regattas, and fine art seascapes. Located in southern Rhode Island, she is also available for private instruction.

Ron Schmitz

Artist and photographer Ron Schmitz was born and raised in northern New Jersey and came to the Ocean State in the fall of 1963 to attend the Rhode Island School of Design. That is when his love affair with lighthouses and Narragansett Bay began. For years, he painted lighthouses for friends that requested them. But much later, after taking an early retirement, he turned his passion into ArtCraft Studio, Original Lighthouse Portraits. “This is something I should have done years ago,” says Ron, “and it is where you’ll find me now.” Please enjoy.

Chris Haines

Chris Haines is a product designer and artist with a BFA in Furniture Design from the Rhode Island School of Design. He grew up in a small town in Massachusetts on the Rhode Island border. Chris has always yearned for the sea. He grew up hearing stories about his Great-Great-Great-Great Grandfather Reuben van der Meer, a whaler out of New Bedford, MA. It was said that Reuben once tried to tame a gigantic lobster to be his anchor. That was the inspiration for Christopher Reuben Haines to create Anchor Claws™, a nautical inspired apparel and accessories brand. When Chris is not listening to folklore you can catch him selling his wares at outdoor markets in Boston, Providence and other New England locations. If you don't want to brave the elements you can check them out at anchorclaws.etsy.com. Claw Your Way to the Top!

Peter Diepenbrock

A graduate of the Rhode Island School of Design, Peter Diepenbrock is one of the region's most prolific, up-and-coming contemporary sculptors. He and his wife Didi Suydam, also appearing at the boat show, live and work in Jamestown. Peter's work has been featured in solo exhibitions appearing at Newport Art Museum , Bridgewater State College, The Hunter Gallery, St. Georges School, and Lenore Gray Gallery (Providence). Past and present design projects include several affiliations: Dansk International, the Museum of Modern Art, Umbra, and the White House, for Christmas-ornament design. In addition to his artistic work, Peter is an adjunct faculty member at RISD and an active advocate for the arts who speaks frequently at community and educational forums throughout the country.

Didi Suydam

Jeweler and photographer Didi Suydam has exhibited and sold her work both nationally and internationally. After her graduation from RISD in 1985, she immersed herself in her career as an artist and chose to make her living solely from her work. “It has been a challenging yet personally gratifying journey … As times change and life circumstances change, I must constantly adapt,” she says. Didi has received numerous awards, including a DeBeers Diamond Design Award and fellowships from The National Endowment for the Arts and The Rhode Island State Council on the Arts. She began her digital photography work in 2004, fascinated by the effects of movement, color, and light. Didi Suydam Contemporary in Jamestown represents her work and that of her husband, Peter Diepenbrock.

Laura Cleminson

Laura Cleminson took her passion for sailing and channeled her creative efforts to create Hoist Away Bags based out of York, Maine. Her motto is to “Raise Old Sails to New Heights” and that she does with a wide variety of both functional and fashionable bag styles, all one-of-a-kind with a bit of the sail legacy stitched into each and every item she creates.

Barbara Cullen

Mystic Scrimshanders was established in 1996 in Mystic, CT, and is the host of the prestigious Mystic Scrimshanders National Scrimshaw Competition. The competition draws the best artists from all over the world. Owner/Artist Barbara Cullen can often be seen creating scenes of wildlife, portraits and mermaids on ancient walrus, prehistoric mammoth and old whale teeth on the premises.

Walter Scott

Walter Scott’s thirty years of experience as a shell fisherman on the bay infuses his work with a deep knowledge of this ever changing and challenging environment of Narragansett Bay. A life long resident of Rhode Island, Walter spent his adolescent years fishing and boating with the working fishermen. His passion for marine art began at an early age while fishing off the Rhode Island coast, he was inspired to draw and paint the brigantine Black Pearl. In 2008 he formed his own art gallery, Mariner Fine Art in Newport RI. Walter's paintings are in many private collections in the US and abroad. He has won several awards and has had work accepted into the Mystic Marine International juried exhibition show.