Artist Biography

Cynthia Sampson-Files is the artist of the pastel painting for our new "14 Hands" wine label. Cynthia is primarily a representational colorist specializing in brightly colored pastel and acrylic paintings of animals. A trip to Kelly Creek, Nevada to see the wild horses running free served as her inspiration for the pastel painting "Wild Horses" that is now on our "14 Hands" label. The original painting is now part of Ste. Michelle's permanent collection.

Cynthia uses vibrant color to portray the spirit and personality of the animals that she experiences in the wild. She uses her artistry to give others a glimpse into her world of wonder and excitement. She also studies and photographs animals at zoos, rodeos, horse shows, ranches and backyard farms, including her own to find her subjects. Cynthia is a member of the Pastel Society of Colorado. She has won numerous awards for her artwork and was chosen to participate in the 2002 "Trail of the Painted Ponies" project in New Mexico. Cynthia has artwork in several galleries and has paintings in private and corporate collections across the United States from the state of Washington to New York City.

To explore more of Cynthia's work, visit her online gallery.