About

Beth (McCullough) Kerner began her journey with art, practicing calligraphy, photography, and sketching in Longmeadow, MA. As a teen she had trouble staying still in her seat at traditional public school, so she attended the Lower Pioneer Valley Graphic Arts Trade School and enjoyed Graphic Arts training. She continued her education at the college level, graduating from UMASS/Boston in 1986. Her first professional job was for Camex, an emerging graphic design computer company. She traveled throughout the U.S. and Europe, training newspaper and retail designers on how to use the newly emerging graphic design computer systems. As a fun fact, she met Queen Elizabeth, Prince Edward, and Prince Philip while training the team at The London Daily Telegraph in 1988.

Since then, Beth has worked as a Designer, Art Director, and Creative Director for global brands such as Sperry Top-Sider, Rockport, Keds, RueLaLa, The Holland Companies, New Balance, and J.Jill. She has created everything from global magazine advertising, catalogs, brand logos, billboards, and packaging. She has overseen staff, directed fashion and editorial photoshoots, and designed full-building wraps for the 2012 London Olympics.

Beth's loving husband of 28 years, Peter Kerner, passed away in 2014 after struggling with ALS for ten years. The disease took a toll on the family, but they persevered (they have five wonderful daughters, Addie and Skyler; and Beth's step-daughters: Jenn; Heather; and Pipere). Peter was an avid sailor and introduced Beth to rope/line/sheets and knotting techniques while they sailed together.

Beth has transitioned from corporate creative work to building her own studio and creating abstract mixed-media artwork, with rope being a material present in each piece. Her unique love for rope began after studying the significant use and utility of rope throughout world history and pre-historic times. Beth loves working with rope’s distinctive textural properties and color ranges, which allows her to create beautiful patterns. She also expresses her artistic style through her respect for the ocean, nature, and harmony between line, space, and negative space.

Beth lives with her family in a coastal town south of Boston, Scituate, MA, and enjoys hanging out on a private island near her home. She donates a portion of her profits to charities that support ALS patients.