patricia hunter mcgrath
Where the soul finds solace
I strive to capture the ever-changing light and energy of the Scottish coast. The sky is never still—clouds race across the horizon, soft whites shifting to rich greys and deep blues. Storms rise suddenly; islands vanish into the mist of the haar. The sea changes in an instant, from serene turquoise to wild, crashing Payne’s grey. It is this ephemeral, powerful beauty—and the emotional truths it reveals—that I aim to express.
Through my work, I invite you into the memory of a place where the soul finds solace in the quiet moments between storms and is stirred by the ever-changing power of nature. Each brushstroke, each phrase, is an offering—a reminder that no matter how fierce the storm, light always returns. The world is always becoming. And perhaps most importantly, we do not have to pass down our pain. We can choose to pass forward love, possibility, and healing.
— Patricia Hunter McGrath
ABOUT THE ARTIST
Patricia Hunter McGrath is a Scottish-born artist, writer, and performer whose work explores themes of transformation, memory, and belonging. A painter for over 30 years, she creates evocative seascapes and landscapes that capture the shifting skies and wild beauty of her homeland. Her paintings—shown and sold in both the U.S. and Scotland—reflect not only the physical terrain but also the emotional landscapes stirred by light, weather, and time.
Born in Edinburgh, Scotland she travelled to the States in 1986. Patricia studied at the Santa Monica College of Design, Art and Architecture, where she was mentored by leading contemporary artists including
Laddie John Dill, Alison Saar, Peter Alexander, and George Herms.
There, she developed a deeply intuitive and expressive visual language that continues to shape her work. Her recent paintings focus on the ever-changing sea as a metaphor for resilience and renewal, using rhythm, motion, and colour to express what lies beneath the surface.
She holds a Master’s degree in Human Development, Social Change, and Art Education from Pacific Oaks College.
In 2007, she founded Branches Atelier in Culver City, California—an early childhood school inspired by the Reggio Emilia philosophy. Today, the school serves over 100 families through its preschool, parent-infant, and parent-toddler programs and offers workshops and seminars to hundreds of ECE Educators each year.
She is continually drawn to the sea and sky—to their shifting weather, changing light, and constant transformation. They mirror the human experience and remind her that no matter how fierce the storm, the light always returns.
artist
In my paintings, I seek to capture the ever-changing beauty of Scotland, my homeland—a place renowned for its shifting light and unpredictable weather. Here, the sky is never still. The pieces I create are not just representations of Scotland’s physical terrain, but reflections of the emotional landscape they stir within me to capture its ephemeral beauty on the canvas.
writer & performer
Through my written & performed work, I invite you to explore transformation. This work is deeply rooted in the emotional terrain of loss, resilience, and belonging. The sea and sky of my home are constant companions. Shifting and unpredictable, these forces mirror the rhythms of my own internal landscape. Each word is an offering to re-write our lives, choosing to pass forward love, possibility, and healing
educator & consultant
Founder, Owner and Executive Director, of Branches Institute and Branches Atelier School. I have a lifelong commitment to connection.
In addition to the Reggio Approach, I developed my own educational philosophy called Contemporary Academics, which honors children as capable, curious thinkers. prepares them not just for school, but for life—for empathy, critical thinking, and citizenship in a rapidly changing world.
GEOGRAPHY OF RAIN
Speaking about the creation of A Geography of Rain, writer and performer Patricia Hunter McGrath shares:
“I believe this intimate performance of spoken word, story, and soundscape invites the audience to make deeply meaningful connections to their own lives
This piece explores the healing power of our connection to the land—the landscapes of our childhoods live within us. When we reconnect with nature, we reconnect with ourselves. We may leave the place we came from, but the threads of connection always lead us back home—to our truest selves".
