Guardians of the Horse Heaven Hills

Artist Martha Nelson Andrews is co-owner of Coyote Canyon Winery, whose wine label paintings embody the spirited character and history of the vineyards

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Editor’s note: Click here to view the article pages as published in the Spring 2023 print issue of Washington Tasting Room Magazine.

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ARTIST MARTHA NELSON ANDREWS has earned respect far and wide for her artwork that spans a range of mixed media from fine art painting, murals, faux finishes, studio set painting, and more recently wine labels. Growing up in Southern California, she became a set painter and muralist for major motion picture studios like Universal Studios, Animal Planet, Sony and Disney. Her career led her to Japan and Germany doing various art projects for Universal Studios, Coors, Mitsubishi, GameWorks and others before eventually moving to Eastern Washington to be closer to family.

Martha and her husband, Mike Andrews, own Coyote Canyon Winery and reside on their estate vineyards in the Horse Heaven Hills AVA. They also operate the winery’s tasting room in the Winemakers Loft in Prosser’s Vintners Village (not too far from the vineyards), where Martha’s artwork is on display.

Washington Tasting Room Magazine interviewed Martha to learn about the compassionate inspiration behind her bold, vibrant paintings. One of her latest works, Guardians of the Vineyard, is featured on the label of the 2020 H/H Estates Reserve Artist Series red wine scheduled to be released this spring. The stirring inscription on the reverse label reads as follows:

“This painting commemorates the wild horses that once roamed freely about the Horse Heaven Hills and Coyote Canyon. The last Horse Heaven roundup was in 1928 when the last wild horses were gathered and sold to Portland canneries. By this time wheat farming and tractors took over and horses were only a pest. At sunrise and sunset, you can imagine the sound of thunder of the spirited wild horses that lived here at Coyote Canyon…these are the Guardians of the Vineyard.”

How did your paintings evolve into wine label artwork?

I grew up in the city but have always escaped to the country whenever possible. We live on a vineyard right in the middle of all of its beauty. Typically I paint what I see. Here at Coyote Canyon we hear the coyotes and the other wildlife animals every night. We have pronghorn antelope, mule deer and many other creatures. (If I lived at the beach I would be painting ocean scenes, however that doesn’t mean they wouldn’t end up on a label.) My idea of having an Artist series gives me a chance to showcase my ability to a wider audience because the wine is shipped all over the country. I also believe that with an Artist series the value of the bottle of wine is also increased.

How do you decide which painting will be used for Coyote Canyon Winery’s HH Estate’s Artist series wine label each year?

The Artist series paintings are especially created for the Artist series wine, which is a limited edition of that particular wine. I have a passion for horses, especially those who were rounded up in the Horse Heaven Hills for slaughter. I try to incorporate them in my labels whenever I can—the latest being three ghost horses, which I have titled Guardians of the Vineyard.

Do you continue to paint murals?

I am happiest when I am painting, and I love painting big. When I worked for the motion picture studios, much of my training was as a muralist. I am always looking for a large surface to put an image on.

Is there a process for how you choose the subject and composition?

It usually takes me several months to get the painting completely drawn out in my mind’s eye. Living on a vineyard helps because I am surrounded by everything that is indigenous to a vineyard. I have to see it finished before I can start collecting reference material and then it’s time to put it all together.

What is it like to live in the Horse Heaven Hills AVA?

It’s a long way from town. My first experience up here was running out of butter and not being able to go to the corner market to buy some. That took a little getting used to. As far as the vineyard is concerned, for me it is eye candy.

Editor’s note: Coyote Canyon’s HH Estate’s Artist Series wines are available exclusively at the winery and through their website.

Interview by editor John Vitale