Jaime Leigh Rankin

Jaime Leigh Rankin was born on 19 March 1987 in Xenia, Ohio.  She is the proud mother of a daughter.  She has been lucky enough to be with her partner Ryan since high school.
Ms Rankin has always needed some kind of creative outlet. Professionally, this led her to “The Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, New York”. After graduation, the young family moved to Orlando, Florida, where Ms Rankin had previously completed her culinary internship at The Ritz Carlton. Her time there was abruptly interrupted when she could no longer return to work after an urgently needed back operation. Although this operation worked wonders on the degenerative disc disease at the age of 25, primary progressive multiple sclerosis was diagnosed afterwards.
The lesions damaged her brain and tore through her spinal cord, causing irreversible damage with a variety of debilitating symptoms.
She paints for her soul every day and it is hard work. Ms Rankin started painting to create art for the people who matter most in her life. For her daughter’s 18th birthday, she made a sketchbook recounting the adventures and memories of her childhood. Lately Ms Rankin enjoys painting wildlife, pets, tropical plants, abstract statement pieces, calligraphy and the silhouette of Buddha.
She is in the initial stages of teaching art therapy classes in groups.