Welcome to Cotuit Center for the Arts

Melanie Gillis is an artist and art teacher. She earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Graphic Design from Boston University and a Master of Arts in Teaching Visual Art from Bridgewater State University. She enjoys teaching a variety of mediums that include drawing, painting, printmaking, mixed media, and clay. She has taught at The Danforth Art Museum at Framingham State University and currently teaches in public school and at the Cape Cod Museum of Art. Melanie loves to teach students of all ages and to encourage them to explore, take chances and develop their creative voice. When Melanie is not teaching art she is engaged in making artworks in a variety of mediums; photography, printmaking, clay, and fiber art.

Jessie Nickerson’s love of art began at age 4, when she decided to embellish her family’s walls with crayon “murals” and has been a life-long pursuit ever since. She received her BFA from the Massachusetts College of Art and went on to Parsons School of Design to earn her MFA. She has studied at the Museum School in Boston and at the Reitweld Academy in Amsterdam. Her illustrations and surreal images are inspired by fairy tales, elements of nature, and daydreams. She exhibits her work throughout the Cape, the South Coast and the Greater Boston area.  She resides on Cape Cod where the sea continues to provide her with inspiration.

Melanie Gillis is an artist and art teacher. She earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Graphic Design from Boston University and a Master of Arts in Teaching Visual Art from Bridgewater State University. She enjoys teaching a variety of mediums that include drawing, painting, printmaking, mixed media, and clay. She has taught at The Danforth Art Museum at Framingham State University and currently teaches in public school and at the Cape Cod Museum of Art. Melanie loves to teach students of all ages and to encourage them to explore, take chances and develop their creative voice. When Melanie is not teaching art she is engaged in making artworks in a variety of mediums; photography, printmaking, clay, and fiber art.

Melanie Gillis is an artist and art teacher. She earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Graphic Design from Boston University and a Master of Arts in Teaching Visual Art from Bridgewater State University. She enjoys teaching a variety of mediums that include drawing, painting, printmaking, mixed media, and clay. She has taught at The Danforth Art Museum at Framingham State University and currently teaches in public school and at the Cape Cod Museum of Art. Melanie loves to teach students of all ages and to encourage them to explore, take chances and develop their creative voice. When Melanie is not teaching art she is engaged in making artworks in a variety of mediums; photography, printmaking, clay, and fiber art.

Léonie Little-Lex is a fine artist and illustrator from Cape Cod, MA. She graduated from Massachusetts College of Art and Design with a BFA in Illustration, then went on to complete her Masters of Arts in Teaching. She shows her work in galleries and art shows on Cape Cod and in the greater Boston area, and has also exhibited nationally in Oregon, New York, and North Carolina. She works in a variety of mediums with an emphasis on painting and pen-and-ink drawings. She recently illustrated her first children's book, "A is for Always: An Adoption Alphabet", published in August 2022. In addition to her work as an artist, Léonie has been an instructor in drawing and painting for over 10 years, both in private and community settings.

Neil Grant is an English representational sculptor who makes fine art through a slightly different lens. The winner of the 2018 Newby Patrons Award at the National Sculpture Society’s Annual Awards Exhibition, he combines technical skill with storytelling and humor.

Neil lives on Cape Cod, Massachusetts where he sculpts out of his studio, and is part of the teaching faculty at Cotuit Center for the Arts.

“Sculpture is how I put my thoughts out into the world, and so I try to make sure that they are ideas worth sharing,” says Neil. “All sculptures have an origin story, and mine normally begin with questions such as, ‘I wonder if anyone has ever attempted that in clay before?’ or ‘It’s probably not what you’d call classical sculpture, but I wonder if people would like it?’ I love sculpture and any other form of art that fuses skill, emotion, and—if it can—a bit of humor. That’s what I aim for in my work."

More details about Neil and his work can be found at www.granty-art.com.

Neil Grant is an English representational sculptor who makes fine art through a slightly different lens. The winner of the 2018 Newby Patrons Award at the National Sculpture Society’s Annual Awards Exhibition, he combines technical skill with storytelling and humor.

Neil lives on Cape Cod, Massachusetts where he sculpts out of his studio, and is part of the teaching faculty at Cotuit Center for the Arts.

“Sculpture is how I put my thoughts out into the world, and so I try to make sure that they are ideas worth sharing,” says Neil. “All sculptures have an origin story, and mine normally begin with questions such as, ‘I wonder if anyone has ever attempted that in clay before?’ or ‘It’s probably not what you’d call classical sculpture, but I wonder if people would like it?’ I love sculpture and any other form of art that fuses skill, emotion, and—if it can—a bit of humor. That’s what I aim for in my work."

More details about Neil and his work can be found at www.granty-art.com.

Artist Amy Kelly grew up in Texas and earned a BFA in painting from Massachusetts College of Art and Design. After a lifetime of city living, she fell in love with Cape Cod, a place that now serves as a profound inspiration for her art. The protected woodlands and seashores of Cape Cod have become the muse for her work, reflecting the beauty and fragility of her adopted home. Her art serves as a poignant reminder to appreciate the precious natural wonders that surround us, inviting the audience to connect with the beauty of Cape Cod.

Amy Kelly's art is a celebration of the fragility and natural beauty that surrounds us. In addition to her love for painting, she has cultivated a deep passion for ceramics. Her journey into this art form began as a means to explore three-dimensional expression, leading her to discover her talent for working with precious metal clay. The delicate nature of this medium resonates with her artistic vision, allowing her to create intricate pieces that reflect the beauty of her surroundings. Through her PMC work, she continues to celebrate the fragility of nature, merging her love for the Cape Cod landscape with her hand crafting skills.

More information about Amy and her work can be found at

Moon Compass Studio.