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about Ben Keys
Learn more about Live Wedding painter Ben Keys
Yes, We Fully Understand How Rom-Com That Sounds ^^,
But It’s 100% True, And 100% The Magic Behind Everything We Do.
hi there, we're ben and jen keys
the husband-wife team and heart behind the business.
Jen and I met after she discovered one of his coastal landscape paintings hanging in an office. The two fell in love and tied the knot in one of downtown Charleston's gorgeous art galleries. Today, Jen and I collaborate to serve couples with one-of-a-kind heirloom wedding art and a seamless experience. Ben is one of the country's top live wedding painters, while Jen assists clients as Studio Manager.
Together, we help clients preserve their love stories with custom heirloom art pieces. Think we might be a great fit? We’d love to meet you.
classicaly trained plein air artist
about ben
Ben's approach to painting is grounded in his academic training and professional experiences in the plein air landscape, inspired by the brushwork and interest in light of French Impressionism, but in his own signature voice. You may have spotted Keys at his easel on outdoors in the southeastern states interpreting the changing moments of light and shadow in paint.
He received a formal education in painting and drawing at the Torpedo Factory, the Art Institute of Chicago, and the International School of Painting in Umbria, Italy. While in Chicago, Keys apprenticed at Tres Jolie Studios creating murals & interiors. He then became one of the original live wedding painters in the country—and he has since been creating heirloom art pieces for couples worldwide for over ten years.
As a full-time live wedding painter for over 10 years, Ben has created over 400 paintings for couples around the world.
“I cannot say enough good things about Ben and Jen. From our first phone call to final emails, they have been an absolute joy to work with. Top it off with Ben’s incredible talent, they are a dream team to work with!”
From the couture bridal industry to the Ben Keys Fine Art studio manager, Jen has called the wedding industry home for 15 years.
about jen
studio manager
Jen has called the wedding industry home for 15 years. Before launching Wed on Canvas together with Ben, she worked for couture-bridal designer Modern Trousseau. The transition from the luxury bridal market to managing the studio here at Ben Keys Fine Art was a natural one.
She has coordinated over 400 of Ben's live wedding paintings around the world. Coordinating with each couple, venue, and planner from the initial commission to the delivery of the finished wedding painting. You will fall in love with her bubbly personality and contagious passion for all-things-weddings!
When she isn't in the studio, Jen loves spending time with Ben and their 3 girls: Emeline (7), Eloise (5), and Estelle (1). Jen is so happy to have called Charleston home for over a decade!
“My experience with Ben Keys and his wife Jen was one of my favorite parts of planning our wedding. They both were such a pleasure to work with, and the whole experience was just magical.”
The School of the Art Institute of Chicago: Ben studied under one of the top painting programs in the world.
Ben has painted 400+ Live Wedding Paintings over the last 11 years.
You can find Ben’s paintings in several movies, including Nicholas Sparks’ The Choice.
Studio Manager, Jen, developed an eye for design and detail while working for luxury bridal designer, Modern Trousseau.
The most common compliment: “We can’t believe how much it looks like us!”
Ben creates each live wedding painting by mixing every shade from the primary colors!
what we value most
It's all from the heart ... here's a little bit of the "why" behind everything we do ...
- Our Girls: Emeline + Eloise + Estelle. They are the forever why behind everything we do. (...you can find us crying during the Father of the Bride speeches!)
- Charleston: We feel so lucky to call Charleston home! Fun(ny!) fact: We once moved away from Charleston, bought our "dream home," and within a month, decided to move back to Charleston! (The most expensive u-Turn ever!)
- Our Wedding Painting: One of the best thing to come out of 2020 was Ben finally having studio time to create a painting from our own wedding photos!
fun things that we're proud of
... the list is long, but here's a just a few!
- Wedding Destinations: Ben created a live painting at the breathtaking Bussaco Palace in Portugal. From Palm Beach, to Telluride, Martha's Vineyard, to Sea Island ... we are here for each adventure!
- Fav Press Feature: We will never forget opening up that newspaper! Being interviewed and photographed for the NY Times has been our favorite press feature to date!
