Heather E. Jangraw was born and raised in Michigan.  She first painted as a child while staying up all night with her best friend painting on scrap pieces of wood.  Her technique and style progressed throughout her youth.

Heather left Michigan after high school and, as a patriotic overachiever, went on to the United States Military Academy at West Point in New York.  After finishing college Heather served in the U.S. Army as a Captain for five years.  During these five years she lived in Korea and Germany with two long term “vacations” to Iraq and Kuwait.

Each culture Heather lived in or experienced on vacations has had a dramatic impact on her personal style.  Whether it was the top of Kilimanjaro or the floating market outside of Bangkok, Thailand or the ruins of Angkor Wat in Cambodia; each inspired Heather and has had an effect on her artwork.

In 2007, Heather and her husband completed their time in the Army and immediately embarked on another adventure.  Their first priority was to learn how to relax again and reach a balance in their lives.  In that first year out of the Army Heather rediscovered her creativity and focused solely on her art for the first time since she was a child.

They first traveled to the Virgin Islands for three months and then drove from Florida to Seattle in a RV looking for an inspiration place to call home.  After a few months in Seattle, they boarded a one way flight to the Yucatan Pennisula in Mexico.  Beginning there, they worked their way down to Costa Rica.  In Costa Rica, they fell in love with a little beach town called Dominical and Heather settled in for six months of painting. 

Six months, two new puppies, and one new pregnancy later; Heather, Justin, Kilo, Lucy, and their soon to be daughter Violet moved to Portland.  She now happily lives in Portland and dedicates her time to painting.