Kay Vaughan-Bartram (1938-2014) first opened her studio in an orangery by a tidal cove overlooking the marsh on Amelia Island, FL. A lifelong amateur artist, she was inspired to continue her studies in art by many of her artist friends and found that “there’s a new excitement in the challenge, particularly plein air painting. The longer I’m here on the marsh my passion for capturing the moods & beauty of coastal southeast Georgia & northeast Florida has gone from the eye of the camera to the flow of an artist’s brush. The tides & marshes are never the same, each time unique in color & substance, each time abundant with creatures great & small, and forever pulling me back to paint again.”

Studying Fine Arts at the University of Kentucky, Kay found time to work in photojournalism layout design, stage & scenery design and the Chicago real estate scene while doing double duty as a homemaker. An avid golfer, Kay and her then-husband retired to Amelia Island, FL where she spent a lot of her time in charity functions, interior design, FCCJ Theatre, Jacksonville Symphony, Wolfson’s Children Hospital and supporting the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Returning to painting full-time in 2004, Kay began appearing in local shows and in August of 2005, organized “Primary Colors” an exhibit of local Florida artists, held at the Waterwheel Gallery on Amelia Island, FL. In February of 2006, Kay planned & chaired “For the Love of Art” a workshop exhibit of students of Janet Powers held at The Gallery on Newcastle in Brunswick, GA.

Two exhibits featuring her work wrapped up in April 2007. “Gardens, Marshes & Estuaries” at the Left Bank Art Gallery on St. Simons Island, GA & her first solo show at the Waterwheel Gallery on Amelia Island, FL

Kay was an active member of The Jacksonville Watercolor Society, Amelia Island Art Association, Glynn Art Association on St. Simons Island, Ga. where Kay was selected for the 2006 Coastal National Juried Exhibit, Jekyll Island Arts Assoc. & First Coast Plein Air Painters. She studied with Mary Borshard, Mari, Hershal Stallard, Pat Weaver, William Maurer, Janet Powers, Tony Van Hasselt, Sue Harden, Perry Austin, Larry Moore, Karen Hewitt Hagan & Ken Wallin
and exhibits at the Waterwheel Art Gallery on Amelia Island, FL, Goodyear Cottage at the Jekyll Island Club, Jekyll Island, GA, Left Bank Art Gallery, St. Simons Island, GA, Glynn Arts on St. Simons Island, GA & Eclectic Cottage, St. Simons Island, GA.

In 2007 Kay moved to Savannah, GA and married her high school classmate in 2009. She put her painting on hold until 2011 when she got back to the easel and participated in shows on the Golden Isles and at The Landings Art Association on Skidaway Island, GA.

Kay passed away in Savannah in November 2014 after a short battle with cancer and is buried amongst the live oaks and marsh at the historic Bosque Bello Cemetery on Amelia Island, FL.