Cleo Huggins is an oil painter who merges classical forms with a deep-sea twist. Shells and horseshoe crabs stand in for portraits and still lifes, while jellyfish, sea turtles, and rays gracing entire aquarium scenes transform into underwater landscapes. Painted in a style that balances realism with a loose, painterly touch, each piece spotlights the ocean’s often-overlooked inhabitants.

With a BA in Graphic Design from RISD and an MS in Digital Typography from Stanford, Cleo first honed her craft in the design world before trading bytes for brushes. Inspired by raising oysters in Little Bay and countless visits to the New England Aquarium, Cleo brings the quiet drama of the underwater world to life in layered compositions that highlight each creature’s individuality.