Meredith Abbott (Born in 1938) was born in and grew up on a small ranch in Carpinteria, California. At a young age, she spent much of her time sketching her rural surroundings. The support of a strong family coupled with This idyllic setting , created an environment where her artistic ability thrived—four of five of her children went on to pursue careers in the fine arts. Meredith attended the Art Center School in Los Angeles and Scripps College in Claremont, graduating in 1962. She used to study with Douglass Parshall in Santa Barbara between classes, and painted alongside Clarence Hinkle and Richard S. Meryman, two influential American Impressionists. Richard became a colleague and tutor to Meredith. The two painted throughout Meryman’s native Dublin, New Hampshire, as well as in Santa Barbara. In 1966, Meredith returned to California. She first went to San Francisco where she rekindled her romance with a childhood friend from her hometown, Duncan Abbott.
The couple got married in 1967 after they moved back to Carpinteria to help manage a lemon and avocado ranch belonging to the family. It was here that Meredith pursued her art with renewed strength and established herself as one of the leading plein air painters in California. During the last 2 decades, she has confirmed her standing as a modern American Impressionist. Her paintings are increasingly sought by collectors, and continue to gain appreciation. In addition, Meredith’s works have found more and more significance in political arenas; what began as a desire to capture the beauty of the human and natural world has become an effective tool for conservationist and environmental causes.
