Abby Pawley is a locally recognized and self taught artist based in Virginia Beach. She started her artistic journey at only five years old. Growing up she excelled at drawing but found her true expertise with oil & acrylic painting when she turned 18. She never had any formal training besides basic high school art classes. She was discouraged at a young age when she was rejected from an art academy, and credits her elementary school custodian Mr. Nunnally for the encouragement that pushed her to keep working hard. His words have stuck with her through adulthood and helped lead her to become the full time artist that she is today.