A native of California, Niles Nordquist is equally at home painting the beauty of the Pacific coast, the majesty of the mountains of the West, or the solitude of the California deserts and backcountry. His early childhood lived on the Oregon coast, and summers spent at his parents' home place in Montana, shaped his love for splendid natural landscapes.

As a young boy, he spent much time exploring, hiking, and camping in back country. He often wandered away from the group, pursuing an eye-catching glimpse, blazing a new trail. Thus, Nordquist, who was a Landscape Architect, has developed over his lifetime an eye trained to capture the nuances of nature and the landscape. His paintings reflect the timelessness of creation in special places.

He searches for the uncommon view of a site, one that is not only new to him, but also that displays the powerful effects of light, that captures the sense of place and time, the essence of its existence in the present moment. Occasionally, this search leads him to paint many miles off road in perfect solitude, and, most recently, led him to the summit of Mt. Whitney.

Nordquist paints en plein aire and in his Escondido studio, expanding smaller studies into larger works. He accepts private commissions.

He has studied with Scott Christensen, John Budicin, Joseph Bohler, Charles Reid and Robert Reynolds.

Nordquist has exhibited in various shows with the California Art Club and Oil Painters of America. He has also shown in many national juried shows and plein air festivals. He is honored to have received awards for his work. His desire is to continue painting great places - "and what great places we have".

Niles is a signature member of the Oil Painters of America, California Art Club, Rocky Mountain Plein Air Painters, and the Laguna Plein Air Painters Association. Galleries who represent him include: David Ryan Gallery in Orcutt, CA. and Wild Horse Gallery in Steamboat Springs, CO.