Bio & Artist Info

Born, raised, and still residing in Eastern Kansas, Rita Beckford often wonders where she gets her love for the ocean, one of her favorite subjects for her artwork. For at least two weeks each year, Beckford can be found on the Outer Bank’s beaches of North Carolina, combing the beach for sea glass and shells. Her favorite thing to do is to sit and watch the ocean, with a book in one hand and her camera in the other. Growing up on a farm encouraged Beckford’s love of nature and animals. She draws her inspiration for her artwork from these years, along with her experiences from time spent in North Carolina.  As a member of the Heartland Art Guild, Beckford helped found and organize their annual miniatures art show, the only fine art in miniature art show in the four-state area.

Beckford has exhibited in many art shows, winning numerous honors. Her paintings have been exhibited in several galleries including the Vgogh Gallery, PA; the Snow Goose Gallery, PA; the Seaside Art Gallery, NC; The Mansion at Strathmore, MD; the Dunedin Fine Art Center, FL; and the Hutchinson Art Center, KS.

Membership

• Hearland Art Guild 
• The Miniature Painters, Sculptors and Gravers Society of Washington, D.C. 
• The Cider Painters of America 

Awards

• 1st Place in Painting Category, "Abby", Fort Scott Fine Arts Exihibt, 2011
• 1st Place in Painting Category, Fort Scott Fine Arts Exihibt, 2010
• Honorable Mention, Heartland Art Guild Miniatures Art Show, 2010
• 2nd place in Mixed Media at the Bourbon County Annual Fine Arts Competition (Fort Scott, KS), 2009
• Honorable Mention in Painting at the Verdigris Valley Art Exhibit, 2009
• 1st Place in Mixed Media at the Verdigris Valley Art Exhibit, 2008
• Stuart Awbrey Award of Merit in the Professional Art Exhibit at the Kansas State fair, 2008
• Best Entry by a Kansas Artist at the Wichita Dog Show, 2008