Spike Ress, born in Long Island, New York, currently resides in southern Utah surrounded by the canyon and high plateau country he loves to paint. He spent his formative years in New Mexico where the culture and landscape influenced his artistic direction. Ress’s art education began in New Mexico with commercial art. He worked in various regions of the southwest as an illustrator and designer. In 1978 he left his commercial art career to pursue fine art full-time.

Ress established a national reputation for his distinctive use of the watercolor medium. In recent years he added oils and other water media to his repertoire, gaining acclaim in those media as well.

Ress is a Signature Member of the American Impressionist Society, Watercolor West, Western Federation of Watercolor Societies and Plein Air Painters of Utah. He is also a member of Oil Painters of America, Plein Air Painters of New Mexico, American Watercolor Society and National Oil & Acrylic Painters Society. He exhibits extensively and has earned numerous awards. His work is in museum, corporate and private collections throughout the US.


SELECTED EXHIBITIONS AND AWARDS

2026 Modern Impressionist Magazine – Honorable Mention Award
2025 American Impressionist Society – Award of Excellence for Watermedia
2025 Ridgewood Art Instatute – American Artist professional League Award of Excellence
2024 Ridgewood Art Instatute – Mancuso Family Award
2023 Plein Air Painters of New Mexico – Best of Artists Members Award
2022 American Impressionist Society Annual National Exhibition - Award of Excellence
2022 American Impressionist Society Small Works Showcase – Award of Excellence
2021 Utah Watercolor Society – Awarded Best of Show
2020 Plein Air Painters of New Mexico – Best of Artists Members Award
2018 American Impressionist Society Annual National Exhibition – Award of Excellence
2118 Utah Watecolor Society – Awarded Best of Show
2018 American Impressionist Society - Award of Merit
2018 Utah Watercolor Society Annual – Awarded Best of Show
2018 Solo Show “Light on the Reef” The Torrey Gallery, Torrey, Utah
2017-18 Big Horn Rendezvous, Big Horn, WY – Guest Artist
2017-18 Maynard Dixon Country, invited artist, Thunderbird Foundation, Mt. Carmel, Utah
2016 Western Federation of Watercolor Societies – Award of Merit
2014 Oil Painters of America, National Juried Exhibition
2013 Western Federation of Watercolor Societies – Award of Merit
2013-14 Western Federation of Watercolor Societies Annual Exhibition - Award of Merit
2012 Utah Spring Salon, Springville Museum of Art, Springville, Utah
2011-13 Maynard Dixon Country, invited artist, Thunderbird Foundation, Mt. Carmel, Utah
2010-11 Western Federation of Watercolor Societies
2001 Helper Utah Annual Plein Air Competition – Awarded Honorable Mention
2000-12 Sears Invitational, St. George, Utah – Awards 2011-14 / 2016-18
1999 Watercolor West Exhibition - Grumbacker Gold Award - Signature Membership Awarded
1997 Southern Utah Invitational, Braithwaite Fine Arts Gallery, Cedar City, Utah
1997 The Regional, St. George Art Museum
1996 Utah Spring Salon, Springville Museum of Art, Springville, Utah
1994-95 Expo Arte, The Juarez Art Museum, Juarez, Mexico
1989 American Watercolor Society 122nd International Exhibition
1988 San Diego Watercolor Society International Exhibit – 3rd and Purchase Award
1988 Arts for the Parks top 100 for traveling exhibition
1986 New Mexico Color and Light Annual Exhibit
1986-99 Robert Sears Museum Invitational, – Purchase Award 1992 other awards ‘05-’10, ‘12
1986 Watercolor West Annual Juried Exhibition
1985 The Museum of Natural History, Taipei, Taiwan The Utah Experience Exhibit,
1985 San Diego Watercolor Society International Exhibit
1985 Rocky Mountain National Water Media Exhibit – Dick Blick Award
1985 Cedar City, Utah National Juried Exhibition – Purchase Award
1985 Watercolor West Annual Juried Exhibition
1984 Utah Watercolor Society Annual Exhibition
1984 Rocky Mountain National Water Media Exhibit
1984-85 Western Federation of Watercolor Societies Exhibit – First Merit Award 1984
1983 Utah Watercolor Society Annual Exhibition – First Merit Award
1983 Cedar City, Utah National Juried Exhibition

GALLERY AFFILIATIONS