~ About Monica’s Journey as a Fine Artist ~

Monica's art can be described as emotional realism. Inspiration for her artwork comes from her beloved coastal town of Wilmington, NC, the majestic Western North Carolina mountains, and her life experiences. Monica’s watercolors are extraordinarily detailed, evoking emotion that feels both intimate and expansive.

Monica was born into a large farming family of third-generation Wilmingtonians.  In 1982, Monica’s parents started Five Oaks Nursery, planting the seeds of her horticultural passion. Her mom, with her own hands, rooted thousands of Azaleas, greatly contributing to Wilmington’s beautiful landscape and heritage. For decades Five Oaks Nursery supplied a countless number of azaleas for the many events at the well-known Azalea Festival. 

Monica's middle school art teacher was the first to notice her budding talent. However, art took a backseat to her passion for softball, which later led her to meet her husband. Monica graduated Summa Cum Laude in Business Management from Mount Olive College and was quickly driven to be successful in business. Through the purchase of Five Oaks Nursery from her parents in 2005, Monica was able to combine her creative talents and her love of farming with her business knowledge. This cultivated a very successful career in horticulture and landscape design, thus continuing the legacy of her family.

It wasn’t until 2018, after Monica’s husband received a cancer diagnosis and they sold the nursery, that Monica was drawn back to her artistic roots. Art, which remained on the back burner most of her life, became her therapy, a painted language beyond words,. Through her paintings she was able to express and capture the emotion she sometimes struggled to convey with words.   “Transitioning Through the Pane”—emerged amidst the shadows of the pandemic and her struggle with the impending loss of her husband to colon cancer.  “Resilience”, another significant piece, embodies her search for strength and healing, signaling a renewed focus and determination toward the future. “Papa Bear at Rest” began with the simple intention of creating art for the family’s cabin in Bryson City, NC, but soon intertwined with the sorrow of her father's passing, reminding us that even the strongest among us, eventually come to rest.

Monica’s artistic process, entirely self-taught, blossomed organically from her experiences and emotions. Her intentional brushstrokes often come together through the unified blending of her mind, her heart and her soul.   In December of 2024, coincidently on her 54th birthday, Monica felt a calling to share her artwork with the world and opened Monica Twigg Fine Art.  Monica’s joining of her paintings along with the stories that accompany them, has quickly caught many people’s attention.  This attention has allowed her artwork to have a meaningful impact that Monica had never imagined possible.

Monica remains deeply connected to her roots, finding joy in gardening, boating, hiking and family—activities that mirror the vast serenity and natural beauty she captures through her art. Her work speaks volumes, touching those who encounter it with its authenticity, depth, and feeling.  Her broad-range of art and their inspirational stories, serve as a window to a world where life’s personal experiences cohesively blend with the colorful spirit of nature.  She aspires to create multiple collections that not only enhance your home and business space, but whose narrative resonates in the hearts of those who experience her art.