Virginia Avery

Virginia Holmes Avery, 82, of Barrington, R.I., passed away of Alzheimers Feb. 6, 2014. A longtime resident of Marshfield, Mass., Ginny grew up on a 20-acre farm in Manomet, Mass., and graduated from Plymouth High School. The daughter of Horace and Emelyn Holmes, she graduated from Boston University with a degree in Art Education, and art and teaching were the focal points of her life. An active painter and teacher for over 50 years, Ginny worked mostly in watercolors and was recognized nationally for her landscapes and focus on nature. She was a member of the New England Watercolor Society and the Copley Society of Boston. A recipient of more than 50 awards in juried art shows, she participated in numerous national, international juried and one-woman shows, including a 1997 40 Years with Watercolor one-woman retrospective show at the South Shore Art Center. A lifelong teacher who inspired students of all ages and levels, Ginny taught watercolor at the South Shore Art Center, the North River Art Society, the Duxbury Art Association, and at her private studio in Marshfield. She led teaching workshops to such places as Santa Fe, N.M., Bermuda, St. Maarten, Costa Rica and Portugal. As an artist and writer, Ginny published in major art magazines and her watercolors were featured in magazines and books. Her paintings are in over 500 private and public collections. In 2007, Ginnys career achievements were recognized by the New England Watercolor Society through the creation of an annual award given in her name. Ginny was the loving wife of David Avery of Barrington, R.I., for 57 years; the mother of three daughters, Lory Cummings, Lucia St. Pierre and Allison Wilbur; and the grandmother of six. She is also survived by her sister, Joan West of Pembroke, Mass. A celebration of life memorial service will be held in the Spring and details of the service will be disseminated by the family closer to the event. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial donations be made to the South Shore Art Center, Cohasset, MA, the Plymouth Arts Center, Plymouth, MA, or to the Virginia Avery Award at the New England Watercolor Society, Boston, MA. www.wilbur-romano.com