Molly Sims

From the time Molly Sims could hold a pencil, she loved to draw. Molly was born in Moscow, ID, & by the time she was 4 she declared to her parents that she was going to be an artist when she grew up. At age 10, she & her family moved to Spokane, WA. 

“Growing up in the Northwest, I spent a lot of time outdoors camping, fishing, hiking & playing outside. All the time that I’ve spent in the outdoors has given me a deep love & appreciation for the natural world & wildlife.” 

Molly graduated from Spokane Falls Community College in 1996 with a vocational degree in graphic design & a strong emphasis on Illustration. Molly married in 1995 & moved with her husband to England in 1997, where he is from. Molly decided to find a way to work from home while raising her family & started to do commissioned artwork & portraits for clients. In 2008, Molly & her family relocated to Maryland for 12 years. While living there, Molly took painting classes at the Schuler’s School of Fine Art, in Baltimore, where they train artists in classical drawing & painting methods. Molly also participated in many regional art shows throughout the mid-Atlantic region. Molly & her family then moved back to Spokane, WA in 2020.

Molly primarily paints wildlife & birds. Why? “I am inspired by the beauty of the natural world. The light is what defines a subject & makes it interesting. Spending time outdoors can heal & refresh our souls. I strive to help my viewers make a meaningful connection with nature & wildlife & see how beautiful & precious it is. There are miracles happening all around us if we take the time to look. I have always loved animals, & want to be a voice for wildlife, which has no voice. There is such a variety of animals & birds out there that I will never run out of subject matter. 

 “My style is classical realism. I want my subjects to feel lifelike, so my viewer can connect with an animal’s spirit to see the beauty & innocence that I see. I like to have a single focus & sometimes keep my backgrounds looser. This style works well with what I want to accomplish.” 

Molly exhibits her work in regional and national art shows including the Out West Art Show every year in Great Falls, MT. She has been creating commissioned artwork for private collectors throughout the US, England & 7 other countries for over 28 years. 

Memberships:

  • Women Artists of the West (WAOW) 
  • National Oil & Acrylic Painters Society (NOAPS) Signature Member

Galleries: 

Shows & Awards

2025

  • September 2025 Miniatures by the Lake show at Coeur d’Alene Galleries, both my paintings sold 
  • August 2025 Art 57th Annual Art on the Green, at the North Idaho College in Coeur d’Alene, ID 
  • July 2025 Featured Artist Show, Best of the West at the Beartooth Gallery of Fine Art
  • May 2025 Featured Artist Show at the Art Spirit Gallery, Coeur d’Alene, ID
  • May 2025 Award of Excellence at the Best of America Small Works Show at the Eisele Gallery in Cincinnati with Owl Portrait titled, “Wise Gaze.”
  • 2025 Women Artists of the West national show Homeland in Clarksville, Tennessee, I won an award of merit for the Best Animal Portrait in Show.  
  • 2025 The Out West Art Show in Great Falls, MT

2024

  • 2024 56th Annual Art on the Green, at the North Idaho College in Coeur d’Alene, ID 
  • 2024 The Out West Art Show in Great Falls, MT. 

2023

  • 2023 Women Artist of the West 53rd National Exhibition at the Carriage Factory Art Gallery with my painting titled, “Misty Morning.”
  • 2023 My “Bugling Elk” painting was purchased by the WA. State Arts Commission for the Eastern State Hospital in Medical Lake, WA. 
  • 2023 ‘Best of America Small Works’ show at the Mary Williams Fine Art Gallery in Boulder, CO. with my painting titled, “Snow Day, sold at the show.”
  • 2023 March 16th-18th Out West Art Show at the Heritage Inn in Great Falls, MT. 2023 Women Artist of the West 53rd National Exhibition at the Carriage Factory Art Gallery with my painting titled, “Misty Morning.”
  • 2023 My “Bugling Elk” painting was purchased by the WA. State Arts Commission for the Eastern State Hospital in Medical Lake, WA. 
  • 2023 ‘Best of America Small Works’ show at the Mary Williams Fine Art Gallery in Boulder, CO. with my painting titled, “Snow Day, sold at the show.”
  • 2023 March 16th-18th Out West Art Show at the Heritage Inn in Great Falls, MT. 

2022

  • 2022 Artfest Juried show at the Museum of Arts and Culture, Spokane WA
  • 2022 The National Oil and Acrylic Painter’s Society show, ‘Best of America’ with painting titled, “Alpha,” hosted by the Wilcox Gallery in Jackson, WY. Painting sold at the show. 
  • 2022 The National Oil and Acrylic Painters Society show, ‘Best of America Small Works’ with painting titled, “Young Family.”

2021

  • 2021 Oil Painters of America, Western Regional Art Show with painting titled, “Alpha.”
  • 2021 The National Oil and Acrylic Painters of America (NOAPS) Best of America show at the Dana Gallery in Missoula, MT with painting titled “Silent Hunter” which also won a merit award and sold at the gallery. (shown above)
  • 2021 The National Oil and Acrylic Painters of America (NOAPS) Best of America Small Works Art show at the Principal Gallery in South Carolina with the painting titled “Golden Meadow.”

2020

  • 2020 International Guild of Realism Spring Salon Show with painting titled “Silent Hunter,”
  • 2020 NOAPS National Oil and Acrylic Painters Society, Spring International Online Exhibit, with painting titled “Masked Wolf”, over 1200 international artist entries and only 150 accepted.