Donna Walsh - Artist and Horsewoman

At 14, California native, Donna Hillman sold her first painting to purchase her first horse starting her on a life long love for horses. At 17 she took a position working for a local photography studio doing artwork on photographs for their clients starting her on her path as a well known and highly sought after artist.

Her passion for horses took her to NY to experience the world of Horse Racing. She ran her first professional race at Belmont Race Track on Oct 11, 1971, placing a strong second place.

Donna filled all her free time painting. Soon her art and success on the track caught the attention of the local press. Doing her first ONE Woman Show at Hialeah Track in Florida led to private showings at tracks across the country and Turf clubs in Australia, New Guinea, and Jamaica.

The news media followed her racing career closely leading to TV interviews and guest appearances on programs like "What's My Line" and "To Tell The Truth" along with several TV and print commercials. World recognition followed when young Donna Hillman represented the US in the first all-women jockey race in Brisbane, Australia.

Donna's paintings have become known as authentically perfect around the country and have helped her to be noted as a celebrity painter. Commission work includes a portrait of L Frank Baum, author of the Wizard of OZ, for the Chittenango Foundation destined to hang in the Oz Museum and a painting of Fred Astair, Dipping Cyd Charisse, for the Fred Astair Dance Studios of Irvine California.

Donna and her husband, Michael Walsh, reside in Grants Pass, Oregon, where they have plenty of room for their horses, dogs, cats, and other critters. Donna fills her days riding and painting; two loves that command most of her time.

For the last 25 years Donna's art has most often been seen in watercolor, but after the completion of her first successful print release, a series on wolves, Donna returned to her oil paints. Donna's first print release in 1998 moved her into a new market and resulted in her work being found in fine art galleries from New York to California. In 2000 Donna secured a publisher for her work, which is now found in fine art galleries around the world. All of Donna's fine work can be seen on her Publisher's web page at "www.hipart.com."