About
Meet Grace Highness
My name is Grace Highness, and I’m a professional artist, creating Western oil paintings in Belgrade, Montana.
I grew up on a small farm in rural Minnesota where I spent my childhood sketching our family horses, creating sculptures from materials found in nature, and painting surrounding lake sunsets.
For as long as I can remember, I’ve been captivated by the untamable spirit of the American West. The big bold skies, resilient creatures, and fearless people have always invited me to dream a little bigger. Every piece I paint tells a story of hope and optimism for the future.
When you hang a piece of my art on your wall, I hope it serves as your reminder to chase your own dreams without fear, and have hope that the future can be brighter than the past.
I've always been an artist at heart
In high school, I spent every spare minute painting or sketching.
It wasn't uncommon to find me in the yard, wearing a respirator surrounded by cans of colorful spray paint.
Many tapestries were tacked to our horse's fence and painted until the sun went down.
I entered my work into several high school art competitions and placed in many.
Eventually I started experimenting with oil paints, but didn't have much guidance through it. This little boat was my first attempt and was also the first piece that sold to a complete stranger!
They paid me $90. I didn't get to meet the buyer, but I wish I could explain to them how much their decision impacted me.
At the time I painted anything I was interested in, but followed photo references very closely.
It wasn't long before people started asking about commissions.
I was honored to be trusted with so many requests and I spent several years bringing people's visions to life.
Through college I squeezed in as many commissions as I could between my busy science courses.
But the question that was always in the back of my mind was "what do I want to paint?"
My high school art teacher always encouraged me to paint from my heart, and not just follow a photo.
I didn't fully understand what she meant, but her words sparked something in me...
“If you could say it in words, there would be no reason to paint.” -Edward Hopper
In 2023 I really started to think about what it meant to paint from your heart.
After years of creating what others requested, I starting turning away commissions with the goal of finding my unique voice as an artist.
I buckled down in 2025 and dug deep. I discovered the joys of blending abstraction with the spirit of the Wild West.
Today, my work celebrates the independence and resilience of the inhabitants of the West - the place so many flocked to for a shot at fulfilling their dreams.
When you hang a piece of my art on your wall, I hope you're reminded that chasing your own dream is worthwhile.
And remember to have a little grit when you chase it, because meaningful pursuits don't come easily.