Painting since 1974, MARY REILLY is an accomplished artist who enjoys painting a variety of subjects, but her first love is portraits in oil of people, pets, and wildlife.

Portraits by Mary are in many public and private collections including such prestigious locations as the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims in Washington D.C., the University of Virginia in Charlottesville VA, Washington Hospital Center in Washington D.C., and her portrait of Vice Admiral Gravely, Jr. USN Ret. is onboard the naval ship, the USS Gravely (DDG 107).

Closer to home, Mary was commissioned by the City of Manassas to paint the portraits of current Mayor Michelle Davis-Younger, and former Mayor Hal Parrish, for inclusion in the city's collection of mayoral portraits in Manassas City Hall.

Magazines that have featured articles about Mary are Northern Virginia, The Piedmont Virginian, Prince William Living and the Piedmont Business Journal where she was highlighted as one of the "25 Women to Watch", and in one of the issues of Neighbors of Historic Manassas Magazine Mary was chosen to be the featured cover story. Additionally, Mary's portrait of Mayor Michelle Davis-Younger was included in the quarterly Journal of the Portrait Society of America.

Originally from New Jersey, in 1986 Mary moved to Virginia with her husband and two daughters. Today she is the grandmother of five grown grandchildren.

Founded by Mary in 1991, Creative Brush Studio is where Mary continues to paint, display her work, and teach oil painting to others. In addition to helping others learn oil painting, Mary believes that as artists we should never stop learning and growing ourselves. Over the years she has continued honing her own skills through instruction and workshops with various master artists including mentoring sessions with internationally acclaimed artist Michelle Dunaway.

As much as Mary loves art, her relationship with the Lord, as well as her family and friends, is the most important part of her life. When she signs each painting, she includes a small cross to remind herself who exactly is the source of her gift.

Capturing the essence of the subject being painted, and transcending the ordinary, a painting by Mary Reilly becomes a work of art to be treasured and passed down from one generation to the next.

Art Affiliations

Juried Member:
International Guild of Realism

Elected Member:
American Artists Professional League

Associate Member:
Oil Painters of America
Portrait Society of America
National Oil and Acrylic Painters’ Society
American Impressionist Society