Mary Layton was born and raised in Lexington, North Carolina. She attended Lexington Senior High School, and took a few classes at Davidson Community College before launching a career in radio. Mary worked in radio almost non-stop for the next fourteen years, working in North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia.

In 2001, Mary resigned from Clear Channel Communications in Greensboro, NC and embarked on a career as an artist, fulfilling a life-long dream. Mostly self-taught, Mary set about practicing her drawing skills and rediscovering her dormant creativity. Inspired by Coloured Pencil artists Johanna Pieterman and Ann Kullberg, Mary invested in a set of Derwent Artists Coloured Pencils and has not looked back. Other favourite mediums include Watercolour, Pen & Ink, and Oils. She has recently begun creating art digitally, as well. Her style ranges from realism to Art Nouveau-inspired works, with an emphasis on fantasy and faery art, florals and landscapes, and a bit of portraiture. An occasional foray into the world of sculpture has been known to occur, as well, with Mary having created a sculpture version of her "Faery Bride" artwork.

Mary's hobbies include writing, reading, bellydance, and theatre (both attending and performing). She has been married since July 2000 to Graham, and they reside in North Carolina.

The images in these galleries are protected under international copyright laws and may not be
used for any purpose without express permission from the copyright holder.
All images © Mary E Layton/Blue Moon Atelier