About

Isabel Forbes

Isabel Forbes

Raised in Spartanburg, SC, Isabel draws from a successful career in graphic design and illustration, coupled with a bachelor of fine arts degree from Florida’s Ringling College of Art & Design.  As a lifelong student, her love of art is always evolving as her influences and interests continue to challenge her by experimenting with new techniques and ways to create and learning from mentors such as West Fraser, Bo Bartlett, Burt Silverman, Sigmund Abeles, Charles Sovek, and Alex Powers.

Isabel paints full time in her “working studio & gallery” in Spartanburg, SC

Exhibitions

  • 2017 Capturing Light, Cabarrus Arts Council, Concord, NC
  • 2016 Artist in Residency, Table Rock State Park, Pickens, SC

  • 2016 The Nature of Things, Artist Guild Gallery, Chapman Cultural Center

  • 2014 SPACE, Gallery East, Spartanburg, SC
2014 Carolina’s Got Art, Elder Gallery, Charlotte, NC
  • 
2013 Hub City Series, TAPS Grant, Cannons Elementary, Spartanburg, SC

  • 2013 The World Is My Studio, Gallery East, Spartanburg, SC
  • 
2012 Monta Anthony & Isabel Forbes, Art Lounge, Spartanburg, SC
2012 Hub City Series, Etherredge Gallery at USC, Aiken, SC 

  • 2012 Cumberland Island Show, Spartanburg, SC      2012 Cabarrus Arts Council, Concord, NC

  • 2011 Innocence & Grace, Edward Dare Gallery, Charleston, SC

  • 2010 In Plain Sight, One Person Show, Martha Cloud Chapman Gallery, Wofford College, Spartanburg, SC

  • 2010 Summer Bliss, One Person Show, Sandpiper Gallery, Sullivan’s Island, SC
  • 
2010 Make Your Life A Work of Art, One Person Show, Saul Alexander Gallery, Charleston, SC

  • 2009 “Home Coming” One Person Show, Carolina Gallery, Spartanburg, SC
  • 
2009 “Painting NC Plein Air Invitational Show”, Germanton Gallery, Germanton, NC

  • 2008 20th Anniversary Juried Art Competition, SC State Museum

  • 2008 “Flights of Fantasy”, Brookgreen Gardens, Murrels Inlet, SC

  • 2007 South Carolina Watermedia Society, Juried Competition

  • 2007 “Through Artist’s Eyes”, Brookgreen Gardens, Murrels Inlet, SC

Awards

  • 2016 SC State Park Residency
  • 2013 People’s Choice – Spartanburg Artists Guild, Spartanburg, SC
  • 2005 First Place – Fraser Fox Award & Honorable Mention Award – Artist & Craftsman Supply Award, COPA Paint Out, Charleston, SC
  • 2003 Honorable Mention, Federal People’s Choice Art Exhibit, Charleston, SC
  • 2002 Third Place, Charleston Artist Guild Signature Show, Charleston, SC
  • 2001 First Place, First Federal People’s Choice Art Exhibit, Charleston, SC
  • Second Place, Folly Beach Art Festival, Folly Beach SC
  • Best of Show, Coastal Carolina Fair, Ladson, SC
  • 2000 Third Place, Cultural Arts Program, N. Charleston, SC
  • 1999 Purchase Award, First Federal People’s Choice Art Exhibit, Charleston, SC
  • 1998 Honorable Mention, Magnolia Gardens Art Competition
  • 1994 Traveling Exhibition, National Watercolor Society, Brea, CA
  • 1994 Best of Show, Women’s Caucus for Art, Sarasota, FL
  • 1993 Best of Show, Anna Maria Festival of Fine Art, Anna Maria Island, FL

Press