Lanford Monroe (1950-2000) grew up surrounded by art and was greatly influenced by her parents, illustrator C.E. Monroe and portraitist Betty Monroe, as well as her neighbors, the famed illustrator, John Clymer, and Bob Kuhn. Monroe completed her first commission by the age of six and later received the Hallmark Scholarship in Fine Art and attended the Ringling School of Art in Sarasota, Florida. She traveled extensively through North America, settling in many places for short periods of time. She usually depicted moody landscapes, which are always occupied by native wildlife. She loved horses and often used them for her subject matter in painting and sculpture. Monroe utilized subtle tones and color changes in her soft renderings of southern scenes. She received many awards, including the Society of Animal Artists Awards of Excellence; American Academy of Equine Art, Popular and Landscape Awards; the 1994 Grand Teton Natural History Association Award; and three awards from the Salmagundi Club. Monroe’s work is recognized in many private collections and museums, including the Leigh Yawkey Woodson Museum of Wildlife Art; Massachusetts Audubon Society; the Philip Morris and Southern Bell Collections; and the National Museum of Wildlife Art.