About Portrait Associates
Portrait Associates was established by two veteran sales associates from the portrait industry. Together, with their team, they collectively bring over 50 years of experience in commissioned portraiture and art. After long and successful careers with Portraits South, formerly one of the nation’s oldest and most respected companies, Elizabeth Dixon and Elizabeth Pitts joined together to form Portrait Associates.
The Elizabeths bring together their combined history of influence and experience in the industry to represent the finest of established and solidly emerging artists, specializing in the field of commissioned portraiture.
In this relationship driven industry, Elizabeth & Elizabeth and their associates work one on one with you to guide you through the selection of an artist who will best capture your subject in the style and budget best suited to you, our client. With a singular focus to deliver the highest quality service and product, Portrait Associates aspire to exceed your expectations.
What We Do
- We partner with artists and clients to commission fine art portrait paintings and sculpture. Our portrait artists are a well curated group of both solidly emerging and experienced artists of national distinction.
- We commission portraits in a variety of mediums including oil, pastel, and watercolor. Our subjects have included children, families, brides, institutional leaders, and even pets.
- We guide clients through the commission process and deliver the highest level of personalized service.
Dedicated to offering quality and beauty, the goal of Portrait Associates is to provide a fresh approach to a time-honored tradition. From years of collaboration with our artists, we bring a personal touch to the process.
Our Team
Elizabeth Dixon
Elizabeth Dixon has always loved art and been fascinated with the artistic abilities and talents of others. This early appreciation led her to pursue a degree in Art History at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Her educational background and appreciation for fine art has led to a career of over twenty years in the portrait industry. As co-owner of Portrait Associates, Elizabeth continues to enjoy every aspect of the portrait business and feels blessed to count the artists, clients, and associates with whom she works as friends.
Elizabeth and her husband, Bill, live in Raleigh and have four children, who have grown up amidst portraits and portfolios. Outside of art and spending time with her family, Elizabeth enjoys the outdoors, as well as volunteering at her church and various non-profits and ministries.
Elizabeth Pitts
An avid art lover, collector and sometimes painter herself, Elizabeth Pitts brings more than 30 years of experience in the art world to her role as co-owner of Portrait Associates. Prior to joining a competitor in the industry in 1991, Elizabeth honed her creative and marketing skills with the New York advertising agency, Young and Rubican. A graduate of Saint Mary’s College and The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Elizabeth resides in Charlotte with her husband, Rodney. Together they contribute to the arts with their time and financial support. Elizabeth is a member of the Art Society Board of the North Carolina Museum of Art and the Mint Museum Auxiliary as well as being an active volunteer with her alma mater and church.
Through her years of experience in the portrait industry, Elizabeth recognizes the importance of listening to client needs and building trust and relationships. She specializes in helping families and institutions find the perfect match for their portrait needs.
Quinerly Cowden
Quinerly Cowden began her career in the fashion industry, working for Joseph Abboud in New York, then moving to Charlotte to work in buying for Belk, Inc. Nine years later and with the birth of her first daughter, Quinerly decided to change directions and began a new career in the portrait industry working for Portraits South. After eight years and 90+ successful commissions, Quinerly was a top sales associate for the company. She brings enthusiasm and a love of all things beautiful, especially art and home decor, with her to Portrait Associates. Her experience, communication and organizational skills are all assets to her clients and the artists she represents.
Quinerly resides in Charlotte with her husband, Stewart, and two young daughters. She is an active member of the Mint Museum Auxiliary, a Deacon at her church, and a frequent volunteer at her daughters’ school.
Kate Madden
Kate grew up in Greensboro, North Carolina. Though raised a Tarheel, she broke tradition and attended Furman University in Greenville, South Carolina, where she has called home since graduating in 2004.
She worked in real estate with The Cliffs Communities and had numerous leadership roles within the Greenville Journal and TOWN Magazine, before marrying her husband, Matt, and later becoming a mother to their two young daughters.
Kate continues to remain involved in the community through her church and many other organizations including Greenville’s Gift and the Rose Ball.
A self-proclaimed, “old soul”, Kate has long had a love for aesthetics, developing an appreciation for paper goods, gardening, and home design from a young age. Her passions, paired with her strong communication and detail management skills, are reflected in all that she pursues.
Katie S. McClintic
Katie is a graduate of Terry College of Business at the University of Georgia with a focus on Management. Post graduation Katie built a formidable career in the high-end corporate events management and catering business serving clients in the sports, aviation, and non-profit sectors. Managing the many moving parts and ever changing client expectations in the events business has finely honed Katie’s skills for client relations and prepared her to deliver the highest quality service to her clients in the portrait sector.
Katie and her husband, Abbott, a trained chef, reside in Morehead City with their young daughter and two dogs. They enjoy traveling, ever searching for a new recipe, ethnic restaurant or local dive in the towns they visit. Always on a quest for the perfect meal! On the Crystal Coast you can find Katie looking for a tennis match or enjoying the sand and sea with family and friends.
Mary Clayton Eggleston McGee
Mary Clayton was born and raised in Danville, Virginia. She attended Meredith College in Raleigh where she was a Cum Laude graduate with a degree in Biology. While living in Raleigh, Mary Clayton met her future husband, Michael McGee, a native North Carolinian. Following her graduation, she and Michael were married and now reside in his hometown of Wilson with their two precious, young sons and their playful yellow lab, Governor. Mary Clayton joins Portrait Associates as a Sales Representative for Wilson and the surrounding area as well as her hometown of Danville and the surrounding area. She comes to Portrait Associates with a wealth of sales and client relations experience gained from her position as Senior Business Development Representative with Insight Software of Raleigh.
Mary Clayton and her family enjoy traveling, especially to visit grandparents in Virginia, summer weekends at the beach and road trips to NC State for Wolfpack basketball.
Lenox Meythaler
Lenox joins Portrait Associates as a seasoned project manager and salesperson with professional experience from project management to pharmaceutical sales. She is a graduate of the University of Mississippi where she earned a BA in Broadcast Journalism, specializing in Public Relations. Lenox grew up in North Carolina surrounded by an array of fine art, but her family portraits were always the centerpiece of her childhood home. Her appreciation for interiors and meaningful pieces motivate her to secure cherished works for her clients.
Lenox has planted roots in Huntsville, Alabama with her husband, their three children and their dog, Blue. Lenox enjoys traveling to visit friends and family, watching Ole Miss football, playing Mahjong and volunteering at her church and children’s school.
Rebecca Sheaff
Rebecca has lived all over the South, creating lifelong friendships and a love for travel, art, and food. After graduating from North Carolina State University, she worked in advertising in Nashville, retail management in Charleston, and development and fundraising in Charlotte. Rebecca is thrilled to be back in Nashville with her husband, 3 young children and a puppy! They can often be found on the many trails and rivers around town. Rebecca brings her creativity, love of beautiful things and strengths in project management and relationship building to Portrait Associates and to everything she does.
Bonnie Sugrue
Bonnie Sugrue was born and raised in Atlanta, Georgia. She is a graduate of the University of Georgia, where she majored in Marketing. Prior to joining Portrait Associates, Bonnie worked at several different advertising and marketing agencies in both Atlanta and Charlotte, North Carolina as an Account Manager servicing Fortune 100 companies.
Bonnie currently lives in Atlanta with her husband, Ryan, and their two boys. Bonnie serves as President of her neighborhood association. She enjoys travel, cooking and tennis.
Mary McLean Vincent
Originally from Bristol, Virginia, Mary McLean is a graduate of the University of the South where she studied Art History and majored in Political Science. After graduating from Sewanee, Mary McLean worked in interior design in Charleston, SC where she met her husband, Kevin. She and Kevin reside in Mount Pleasant, SC with their daughter, Anne McLean and their Labrador retriever, Easy.
Mary McLean joins Portrait Associates with a wealth of sales and relationship knowledge attained from her several years of experience as a Senior Pharmaceutical Sales Representative in the Women’s Health industry. Mary McLean enjoys traveling, boating, and spending time with her family and friends.
Sarah Wood
Sarah Wood is a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where she majored in Journalism with a concentration in Advertising. Prior to joining Portrait Associates, Sarah worked in Development for Central Park Conservancy in Manhattan and Marbles Kids Museum in Raleigh, NC. With experience ranging from fundraising to managing special events of all sizes, Sarah’s ability to stay organized and communicate throughout the life of a project serve both client and artist well.
Sarah lives in Raleigh with her husband, Surry, and their two young daughters. Sarah is active at her daughters’ school and in her church, where she serves on the Children’s Committee and teaches Sunday School.
Taylor D. Wilhelm
A native of Danville, Virginia, Taylor now resides in Lynchburg with her husband, two children and their black lab, Moose. She holds a degree in Business from Virginia Tech and works as a full-time insurance broker. She and her husband also own Hill City Storks, a lawn sign business celebrating births and adoptions. Taylor is actively involved in her community through her church, her children’s schools, and the Academy Center of the Arts. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her family, running and baking.