Visitors to Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden have probably noticed the three beautiful new murals gracing our roads leading up to the Gardens:

  • Worrell’s Walk Crossing Mural – A river scene filled with wildlife and crystal water
  • Crosswalk Mural by The Trailhead Store – Inspired by wildflowers and spring ephemerals native to the Carolinas
  • Stowe Connector Trail Crosswalk by the Garden Pavilion Parking lot – Vibrant, tropical plants inspired by the Williamson Conservatory

We got to know the artist, Heidi Nisbett (aka Sketching Summits) a little better to learn about her background and inspiration behind her art. Read the following interview to learn more and be sure to explore the property to find each of the three murals next time you visit!

Worrell's Walk Mural

Stowe Connector Trail Mural

Crosswalk Mural

Could you tell us a little bit about yourself and your background as an artist?

I have been painting and drawing for as long as I can remember, and I have my BFA from Winthrop University in Painting and Printmaking. After graduating college, I took a break from art for a few years but in 2018 started doing some commissions and paintings on the side. My success with this slowly grew, and I was eventually able to start doing it as my full time job.

What inspired you to start creating murals? 

I had my first mural opportunity in 2023 in Damascus Virginia, commissioned by the Appalachian Trail Conservancy. I was intimidated by the project at first but ended up having a blast doing it. With murals, I love how much I am able to engage with the community while I work, and it’s so fun to transform a space with color.

Could you tell me a little bit about the inspiration behind each of the three murals? 

The first one (at the Worrels Walk crossing) was inspired by the Catawba River and the wildlife that lives there and the recreational opportunities it provides. I included several animals that I have seen while exploring the Catawba River basin. The blue heron I included was inspired by how often I’ve seen one here on the botanical garden’s property.
The second crosswalk was inspired by the fun exotic plants from the greenhouse here. I spent a day this winter enjoying the warmth of the greenhouse, sketching and photographing the orchids and other plants to create this composition.
The final crosswalk is my personal favorite. I get really excited about wildflowers and spring ephemerals. The Persimmon Trail here is one of my favorites to visit in the spring because of the flowers that grow there. This crosswalk has some of my favorite spring native species and I’ve incorporated some of what I have learned about how these species interact with each other, such as the box turtle eating the mayapple.

How did you land on each design/what’s your creative process? 

I create the drawings on my iPad in a program called Procreate which gives me a lot of options to experiment and change things. One challenge with this project is that the crosswalks don’t have a top or bottom, they are viewed from all angles depending on if you are driving or walking and from which direction you are coming. So I worked to create designs that didn’t have a designated perspective it needed to be viewed by. I opted to go with aerial views since the viewer is always looking down on them.

How long does it take you to complete each mural?

Each mural took about 4-5 days.

What’s been your favorite part of creating the murals at Stowe?

I loved working in such a beautiful landscape, surrounded by so much nature and with the ability to take a quick break by walking the trails. I really enjoyed listening to the birds in the early morning hours. One morning I had the pleasure of watching a herd of deer in the woods as well!

What message or feeling do you hope these murals evoke for visitors?

I hope these murals help the visitors feel even more surrounded by nature, and find beauty in the landscapes here. I also hope it keeps them curious, eager to learn about the fun little plants and critters we can find at our feet.

What has the community response been like so far?

I received so many compliments while working on these! Everyone has had so many great things to say, it made working on site a delight.

How can people support your art or connect with you online?

My website is sketchingsummits.com and I can be found on Facebook and Instagram @sketchingsummits as well.