Meet Anne Burroughs

As a young child, I longed to be an artist but was pushed toward music.  I became a classical pianist, taught keyboard lessons, directed choirs, played in 3 rock bands and founded a successful music store which twice won the national award for promotion of the year. 

For fun, I rode my horses daily, windsurfed all summer and snowboarded during winter.  It was through windsurfing that I discovered the Outer Banks of North Carolina whose draw was so intense, I had to make it my home. 

Spending so much time on the water allowed me a new perspective and I realized that my creativity could go beyond music.  

I began writing for several local publications.  One of my most notable assignments was the relocation of the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse in 1999.  I was fortunate enough to be invited to operate the machinery the last 5 feet of the move into its current position.

Writing was rewarding and fun but I couldn’t ignore the persistent tug of my retail roots.  It was time for me to move into the visual arts.  I opened a small store which over 14 years grew into the largest gallery on Hatteras Island.  It’s success allowed me to nurture the careers of many local artists as well as contributing to charities such as Meals on Wheels, Wounded Warriors and the Hatteras Methodist Men Hurricane Relief Fund.

It was a delightful 14 years but as many of us know that when we reach our 50s, life can pull at us from many directions.  And sadly, sometimes we have to walk away from our dreams.

During my time away, I picked up a pencil and started to draw.  I discovered my own style by blending several techniques.  And finally, my childhood desire to be an artist was being realized.

It’s been a 10 year journey and now I am back to the place I love and true to form, my passion for retail never diminished.  In 2023, my husband and I opened a small boutique-style gallery named The Artful Navigator (formerly Manteo 101) which is located near the waterfront in historic downtown Manteo, NC.