Katy Hardeay knew from childhood that she wanted to be an artist. She loved books with beautiful illustrations, and dreamed of being an illustrator of childrens’ books. She had a great affection for animals and her family had a variety of pets that were included in her early sketches. With this inspiration, she earned her bachelor’s degree in Fine Arts from Sacramento State University, and began working in graphic design and illustration.

She discovered her love for mural painting when she painted her childrens’ nursery, turning it from an ordinary room into a magical place for them. She enjoyed working on a large scale, emulating the style of the illustrators she had admired, to create an environment that felt like walking into a storybook.

Having found her passion, Katy has been transforming walls into custom works of art since she started her business, Fanciful Walls, in 1994. While she specializes in nurseries and childrens’ rooms, her repertoire includes hand-painted murals and decorative painting on walls and ceilings in any room of a home or business.

A partial listing of commercial clients includes the Sacramento Bee, Arden Hills Country Club, Aramark Uniform Services, Sunshine’s Hip Baby, Dave’s Hawaiian Barbecue, Natomas and Timberlake Pediatrics, and Starlight Starbright. Her portfolio is displayed at Goore’s For Babies to Teens for referrals for their customers.

Her service area includes Sacramento and cities within a 60-mile radius, where she has painted in hundreds of homes in the past 14 years. In addition to mural painting, she creates commissioned artwork such as painted furniture, animal portraits, and illustrations.

Katy lives in Natomas, a community of Sacramento, California, with her husband, children, and many pets. She would like to thank all of her clients who have given her the opportunity to paint in their homes and businesses. Mural painting continues to be challenging, exciting and especially rewarding; it is a blessing to be able to enjoy what one does for a living.