I wanted to share a beautiful home styling display from one of my dear friends Meredith Hanson, just in time for our New England sale (25% off all prints from New England) to inspire your next purchase. Meredith’s coastal style and preppy aesthetic has always captured my eye. It was so rewarding getting to work with her on set for my Nantucket series last year - fun fact her adorable dog Willis is the star of a handful of the prints from this series. I'm so thrilled Meredith was willing to take the time to share her displays with all of us. Without further ado, let's get started!
## We’re so excited to be visiting your home today!
> Welcome to our home in Hingham, MA! I am delighted to partner with Gray and the GM team for a home tour experience to showcase Gray’s beautiful photos taken on Nantucket last summer.
## Your career seems so interesting! Can you give us a little peek into what you do?
> I am a professional artist with a passion for collaborating and storytelling through paint, photography and videography. Collaborating has become an essential part of my brand and was the catalyst for me to transition from the art gallery world to art and design. I love being part of a team and thanks to the power of social media, I have had an amazing opportunity to grow my brand and business online and connect with so many talented creatives. From watercolor fashion and home accessory collaborations to hand painted one-of-a-kind pieces, I love to diversify my painting portfolio with a multitude of mediums. Honing my photography and videography skills has allowed me to share the joys of the entire artistic process with a much wider audience.
## Do you love living on the island of Nantucket?
> Living on Nantucket year round for a decade was a challenging and exhilarating experience for me artistically! I grew up in Bedford, NY, a bucolic village about an hour north of NYC. Bedford was my first “happy place” as it is known for its horse farms and natural beauty. After graduating from Wheaton College (MA) with a degree in Studio Art and Art History, I moved to NYC to pursue a career in the arts which lasted exactly two months! I realized that my country roots made me a poor candidate for big city life. I packed my bags and moved to our family home on Nantucket to give my art career a much-needed boost. I fell in love with all four seasons on the island and found that I was most productive during the coldest months of the winter. I showed my work in several art galleries on Nantucket and in 2014, started my own private teaching business thanks to my dear friend Holly Finigan. Holly used her incredible platform, Nantucket blACKbook, to showcase my work which is when my career really took off. I spent six happy summers teaching dozens of aspiring young artists and today, many of these kids are pursuing art careers of their own.
## How do you balance your home life with your business?
> When Trevor and I were looking at homes earlier this year, we both agreed that we needed to find a home with great light and a separate studio room for me to work. My studio is where I spend my entire day painting, editing, and photographing projects – along with our three dogs who love to keep me company.
> Hingham reminds me so much of Nantucket - there is a rich history rooted in this coastal town and everyone has been incredibly welcoming and supportive. Partnering with several companies and brands this year on island and on the “mainland” has been a wonderful transition into splitting my work/life between Hingham and Nantucket.
## When were you first introduced to the GM brand? What was your first piece?
> For many years, I have been a huge admirer of Gray’s work, particularly his first aerial collection of Nantucket beaches! Several years ago (just after Gray released his first Nantucket collection) I was working with one of my art students at her home in ‘Sconset and we were brainstorming different themes to paint that day. My student looked at the photos on the wall of her home and pointed to Gray’s aerial photo and said, “I want to paint that!” My student quickly got out her watercolors and painted a beautiful aerial landscape inspired by Gray’s aerial photo of Surfside beach. My student’s father sent a note to Gray on Instagram with a photo of his daughter’s painting saying how proud he was of her work and how special this painting was to him as this beach was where he and his wife (my dear friend and client) had gotten engaged! Gray immediately messaged back with the kindest note of support and encouragement. Little did we know that a few years later we would all be part of the Gray Malin team assisting with his Nantucket collection shoot during the summer of 2021! I was hired as one of Gray’s Creative Directors thanks to my friend, Laura Cunningham of Yellow Productions, who suggested I join Gray’s team. My first official Gray Malin piece was shot at Old North Wharf at the historic Mary Slade cottage. Not only is it my favorite photo from Gray’s Nantucket collection, it is also my favorite photo of my dog, Willis!
## Can you tell us a little bit more about what inspired your print choices?
> Trevor and I have had so much fun decorating our home and now have two Gray Malin pieces hanging in our collection. I chose Gray’s ‘Sconset aerial print to hang in my studio because I wanted a piece of my “Happy Place” to inspire me when I was painting/ creating. The tones in the water that Gray captured go perfectly with the Serena & Lily pieces in my studio. I tend to gravitate towards French blues, shades of turquoise, greens and neutrals and all of those colors can be found in Gray’s print.
> What aspect of the Gray Malin lifestyle brand do you connect with the most?
> As a fellow artist, I understand the importance of not only being the face of your brand but also weaving your “joie de vivre” into your work. I feel Gray’s beautiful spirit in each one of his pieces. For so many reasons, I am honored to call him my friend.
## How would you describe your interior decor style?
> After 10 very happy years living on the island, I decided to spread my wings and spend part of the year in Beacon Hill in Boston. During the winter of 2020, I met my fiancé, Trevor Nelson, who lived just outside of Boston. Throughout the spring and summer months, I commuted to Nantucket to pursue several business collaborations. Fast forward to 2022, Trevor and I have now found our dream home in Hingham, MA. Trevor’s sailing prints and my Nantucket-inspired landscape and seascape watercolors come together perfectly to create a whimsical and adventurous aesthetic.
Meredith, thank you again for sharing your beautiful space with us and taking time to inspire readers with your incredible displays and tell us about your amazing and creative art centric career. Stay up to date with Meredith on her Instagram and website.
XX,
Gray