Illustrative Photographer Martha Alliegro was born in Greensboro, North Carolina, and spent her youth living in a rural area where she developed a love of animals, especially horses. After graduating from high school, she attended Guilford Technical Institute (now GTCC) where she majored in Commercial Art and Advertising Design. Ms. Alliegro moved to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina in 1976 and then to Gloucester, Virginia, in 1988. After a lengthy career with the Daily Press, she retired in 2006. She now runs a small farm, caring for her horses, goats, chickens, dogs, and a cat, while passionately pursuing her longtime hobby of photography and art. Over time, Ms. Alliegro has developed her own technique of enhancing and combining photographs to create unique pieces of art that she refers to as “illustrative photo painting.” Many of her own animals are featured in her work. In addition, she restores and enhances old photographs.