Artist Hope Reis combines her love of interior design and an affinity for nature in a prolific body of work. Each canvas transports the viewer from the present day to a world that Reis describes as “timeless and historic.”
Inspired by the prominent French Impressionists of the 19th century, such Renoir and Monet, Reis infuses a classic and ethereal presence into her oil paintings as well as her watercolors.
Combining evocative qualities with realism, her portraits depicting women and children in carefree quotidian life present scenes reminiscent of works that could have adorned canvases in a bygone century.
Florida’s florals and landscapes are among the personal favorites in her oeuvre, from roses and peonies to hydrangeas, all painted in her signature romantic style.
A sweeping canvas of a vase of lavender hydrangeas earned Reis the Best Floral category in Plein Air Magazine’s April 2025 PleinAir Salon Art Competition. Titled “Blue and Purple Hydrangea,” the dreamy canvas explores the interplay of light and form within delicate blossoms, their stems clearly discernible through a transparent vase set upon a reflective glass table.
“As an artist, you kind of morph into different things. I started with flowers, then landscapes, and even horse drawn carriages,” Reis reveals.
“Art is something I’ll never get to the end of. There’s always a new mountain to climb.”
In similar fashion, her depictions of domestic interiors evoke the tranquil serenity of quaint English cottages and elegance of gilded French estates.
“Chateau Sunny Morning” invites the viewer into a welcoming morning room, featuring a rose-hued round table in the foreground set for a morning repast and a picture window that draws the eye out to the home’s verdant garden.
Her work “View to the Red Library” situates the viewer within a flower-adorned foyer that transitions into an intimate book nook, distinguished by cinnamon-colored walls.
Paintings such as these have won widespread recognition for the artist, including a juried selection into the esteemed Oil Painters of America Eastern National Exhibition for her work “Drawing Room Lamps.”
In that one, illuminated table lamps cast a golden glow on the displays of framed family photos, mementos and floral arrangements within a sophisticated drawing room, distinguished by teal furnishings, coordinated throw pillows and wallcoverings.
Another stately space is depicted in “Middlethorpe Hall Drawing Room.” Centered by an elaborate crystal chandelier above elegant furniture, the room’s gold walls are hung with large family portraits.
The painting is a nod to Middlethorpe Hall and Spa in York, England, a William III historic country house set on an expansive 20 acres. The 17th century property is currently open to the public, offering the opportunity to savor traditional afternoon tea service or a stay in the stately hotel.
As motivated as she is by the Impressionists and scenes of yesteryear, Reis says her greatest source of inspiration is her devout faith.
“My faith is everything. When I was 19, my mother died of pancreatic cancer at age 42. At the time, I thought God loved everyone else in the world but he didn’t love me. I was angry at God. I was scared. Our family splintered and my father went off the deep end.”
Reis shares that she struggled as well with bulimia and drug addiction following her mother’s tragic death.
“I tried to find the meaning of life,” she explains.
Her journey took her to the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York City, where she received a degree in interior design. Obtaining an education at the prestigious school made her realize that she could successfully integrate art into her career.
“I got paid to paint these floor canvases. My heart jumped out of my chest. I could do this!” Reis exclaims.
Years later, a frank conversation with her twin brother served as an invitation to enter a lifelong faith, helping her to heal from the loss of her mother while building a solid marriage and raising two sons in the Northeast.
The Greenwich, Conn., native has called Florida home since the turn of the century. She spent a productive artistic decade in Naples, followed by an even longer stretch in West Palm Beach before settling with husband, Billy, in Vero Beach in 2022.
“In Connecticut, we had a barn and a basement. In Florida, we don’t have as much space, so I started working on small-scale paintings, such as of a hibiscus outside our house,” says Reis.
Reis is passionate about traveling, especially in the summer months. Married for 45 years to a husband she calls a “saint,” the couple enjoys sojourns in England and Scotland, where she employs her interior design training to derive inspiration from historic homes.
When she’s at home in Florida, Reis takes full advantage of the balmy climate to participate in a multitude of outdoor sports, such as golf, tennis and surfing.
Beyond the Sunshine State, her work has been featured at numerous galleries across the country, including Spa Fine Art in Saratoga, N.Y., and Edward Montgomery Fine Art in Carmel-by-the-Sea, Calif.
