Peggy lynn bishop, Aquaventure 2026, juror

Raised in Dayton, Ohio, under the mentorship of her artist-mother, Peggy Lynn Bishop began her creative journey with a disciplined focus on realism. While she spent forty years as a professional in molecular biology and data engineering, she remained devoted to the watercolor medium, honing her technical skills throughout her career.

Peggy’s work has undergone a significant evolution, shifting from rigid detail to atmospheric compositions that explore the "magic" of fluid watercolor and "lost and found edges." However, her mastery of precision remains a hallmark of her skill; she recently received the James “Scotty” McArthur Award in the 2025 Aqueous competition for her hyper-realistic piece, "Cherry Coke." This balance between controlled technique and spontaneous expression defines her current practice. As a juror and instructor, Peggy draws on this duality to help students navigate the challenges of watercolor, teaching them how to guide the medium to create works that are both technically precise and emotionally relevant.