Eileen Riley
Featured Artist, December 2021 -Eileen Riley is a life-long student of the arts. Growing up in rural, Westport, Massachusetts, Eileen's backyard became her inspiration. The ocean, wooded retreats, farmland, and suburbia acted as a springboard for her past and current work. From an early age she wanted to become an artist and took advanced art classes at the local university when she was twelve. This gave her the confidence she needed to succeed in her dream.
She continued learning throughout high school and eventually went to the University of Massachusetts to study fine art with a concentration in sculpture. After college she spent time as a potter and artist mentor. She then settled into a five-year position as an art teacher at Bishop Stang High School. There she taught three-dimensional design, photography and drawing and painting. She also created set designs for the school’s drama and administration departments.
In 2010, Eileen discovered Art Experts, an art authenticating and appraisal organization. She worked for them in sales from 2010-2011 in Colorado and again in Massachusetts as the New England representative from 2019-2021. In these positions Ms. Riley learned much about documenting, authentication, and valuation of artworks, which in turn aided to her knowledge of the art world and its inner workings.
Wanting to be more of an artist in her own right and to learn new things, Ms. Riley began teaching urban teens in the art of mural making, photography and fine art. Still desiring more out of her career she set out to start her own business. In 2014 Eileen started Divinely Inspired, a traveling art studio. She began teaching easy step-by-step painting techniques mostly to friends and family in their private homes. The business flourished and she began teaching in public and private clubs, function halls and restaurants with classes as large as thirty people.
Ms. Riley continues to develop her craft and shows her work regularly at art galleries in New Bedford and Fall River, Massachusetts, and the surrounding areas. She also does commissioned work of various kinds. She submerges herself in art, teaching private lessons and continuing to study art by taking classes and staying current in art by visiting a vast amount of galleries and art museums wherever she goes, for inspiration. Eileen is currently researching art residencies in the state of Florida.
