HHS Artists

Highlands High School Alumni Artists’ rooted in the Fort Thomas Schools

Highlands High School strives to support students develop skills and talents as varied as the students served. One special niche is the visual artists. This story is a combination of our alumni professional artists whose works can be seen regionally and across the USA.

Highlands High School Alumna Transforms Small-Town Roots into Artistic Legacy: Beverly Erschell

Donors: Nancy McEntire, Class of 1958, Lucie Rice, Class of 1997

Authors: Jade Farley & Gemma Cutajar, HHS Class of 2027

Story Contributor: Bev (Hembold) Erschell, Class of 1952

Web Page Designer: Brayden Moeves, Class of 2024

“I never ‘got into’ art. Art was within me.” 

Highlands High School, since the beginning, has been a breeding ground for individuals who have gone on to make a significant impact in the world. Among its creative alumni is Beverly Hembold Erschell (1952) who never “learned” to do art.

 Art was within her.

 “I just expressed art. I was just this... machine that expressed this element within me. I remember Mother would say, 'Go lie down. Take a break.' I would go into my room and I wasn’t taking a break. I had to express myself.” 

For Hembold-Erschell, this passion was natural, and whether she liked it or not, the passion was going to shine through. Although Hembold graduated from HHS, Hembold-Erschell had a journey that started at an all-girls private school in Cincinnati, Ohio. 

“An hour drive over; an hour drive back; you wouldn’t be able to imagine picking up little kids, I mean that’s 2 hours out of your day! So, I finally convinced my father that if he sent me to Highlands, I would behave.” Hembold-Erschell said with a giggle.

When Hembold-Erschell arrived at HHS, her whole world changed. Not only were there different genders but a PLETHORA of classes. But none of the extracurricular activities shined as brightly on her as the art class. 

“The first day of the art class, our teacher, Ms. Payne asked us what types of art we were interested in. And I already had some fair knowledge of what I liked to create from working with local artist, Joe Gately on Tremont Avenue. I was so interested in horses at the time so, my art teacher would bring in all sorts of horse books and I drew from them. I also loved art history.” 

One of the new experiences that she had not had at the all-girls private school was May Day, which inspired one of her earlier art pieces also titled, “May Day.” 

Slowly winding back the clock, Junior, Beverly Hembold-Erschell described to us her first-ever experience with May Day. Hembold-Erschell was paired with Paige Williams, a friend of hers who was a whopping 6 feet tall, and then Hembold-Erschell, who was barely 5 foot 2. She described how it was so difficult to work with her in terms of the assigned dances, but they had a great time.

 And then suddenly pointing behind her, there (hanging above her living room couch) was a beautiful painting that she had done. 

 “That was May Day,” Hembold-Erschell explained. 

High school flew by faster than it came and after an eclipse of memories made at the school that changed her life, college came around. Hembold (at the time) met Fred W. Erschell, also well known as ‘Fritz Erschell’. She recognized Fritz because he was close friends with Hembold-Erschell's friend, Sarah Houze. They met once or twice whenever He and Sarah would hang out, but then on the train, they got to know each other more.   Fritz was a huge part of Hembold-Erschell’s life and one of her number 1 supporters. They were two individuals who had met before in Fort Thomas, but now they were enrolled in entirely different universities who, by the hand of fate, would come to meet again and create a love story for the ages. 

“We went to 2 separate colleges. We would meet at the train station, take the train together back and forth, and from there we had just hit it off.” 

Hembold-Erschell realized that art was what she knew she wanted to do with her life when she entered her first art piece, which would become the painting that almost everyone who has roots in Fort Thomas has seen, and the artwork that is currently pictured on the featured coaster, into Dayton Art Museum.

 “I entered my first art piece into the Dayton art museum and... It was accepted. Here’s the funny part; my professor from UC’s entry was declined. And yes I did. I felt deeply satisfied.”

 From then on, life was extraordinary for Hembold-Erschell. Hembold-Erschell got married to Fritz and they lived a happy and long life together, having the blessing of 2 children along the way. To support her growing family, Hembold-Erschell did portraits of people in the Tri-State area for 25 dollars a portrait. Hembold-Erschell was very generous with her art pieces and even did pieces for her friends and family. A family friend, Amy Thompson Leigh recounts a story her mother told her when she was a little girl.

 “When I was born, Bev did a sketch of a little girl with a flower petal bonnet on her head and a gift with a letter that read, “We welcome Amy into this world, and we are so excited to meet her.” My mom knew from the start that Bev was a great artist and appreciated her artwork.” 

Birth card with sketch by Bev Erschell

In the galleries of Fort Thomas, now a living legend, Hembold-Erschell extends heartfelt gratitude to all who have illuminated her remarkable journey, for it is through their support and shared love of art that her legacy has found its eternal home.

To this day, the sketch of baby Amy is framed on now-adult Amy’s wall. Throughout Beverly’s life, she has repeatedly shown that she is a remarkable woman and artist. 

Through the lenses of her artistry, the world saw the extraordinary in the ordinary, and her work became a cherished contribution to the power of creativity. In the heart of this town, her art became a beacon. Her art speaks to people. Reminding us that greatness knows no bounds when fueled by passion and talent. When we asked Hembold-Erschell her thoughts about her progression throughout her life as an artist, she expressed how grateful she was for the community, and thrilled that she had done as well as she had.

 “I mean I didn’t expect to come this far. No one does.” Hembold-Erschell said with a sly chuckle. 

Bev’s painting of Highlands has this inscription: “The circles on the sidewalk are emblematic of the footprints or lasting impressions that each student will leave at Highlands and they mark the initial step of each well-prepared Highlands graduate’s journey into the future. “

“The audience made it possible. The world promoted me, and I would love to thank everybody. I’ll never forget the people who made it possible.” 

With a smile, Bev stood up from her porcelain white sofa and said, “I'll especially never forget what brought me here. Highlands High School. It was a super place.”  

It was an honor to meet with this Fort Thomas gem….Beverly Hembold-Erschell

Highlands Alumna Artist, Lucie Rice

Story Contributor and Donor: Lucie Rice, class of 1997

Author: Amy Thompson Leigh, class of 1982

Soft music was in the air, hors d’oeurves were plated, and a nervous excitement was drumming in Lucie’s heart as the first guests began to arrive at the Dancing Crane, in Covington. As a Highlands senior, she was already experiencing her first professional Gallery Show along with classmate, Jane Bettis.

Their art teacher, Mrs. Kathy Skop, was very influential in encouraging these two budding artists to go public, spearheading their first professional career launch. The prior year, they had been part of a Highlands art show at Bowman’s Framing in Ft. Thomas. However, this Covington show focused solely on these two artists. What a thrill!!!

As you can imagine, years of preparation led Lucie to this artistic pinnacle in her Highlands career. From the time Lucie was learning to talk, she was also creating and drawing; particularly pieces including animals. Growing up in a home with a landscape architect as a father and a creative writer for a mother, Lucie was surrounded with creativity and encouragement. One of Lucie’s earliest memories of success was at Vacation Bible School (here in Fort Thomas) where she won an art contest as a kindergartner, (which gave her an early boost of confidence). Throughout her years in the Fort Thomas Schools, Lucie took every art class offered, with teacher/artists such as Cindy Noran and Kathy Skop guiding her along, including AP art classes her junior and senior year. She also took classes at Cincinnati Art Academy and Baker Hunt, outside of school.

After high school, Lucie earned her undergraduate degree in painting and sculpture from the University of Evansville (which included studying at their satellite university in Grantham, England). She completed her master’s degree at Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD). There she unexpectedly developed a new love for Adobe Illustrator, which allowed her to create remarkable graphics.

Lucie’s fruitful career has brought her on many adventures throughout the US. They have helped her to develop an understanding (and perhaps an affection) for various communities and organizations who commissioned her to complete their visions. A few of her most memorable projects are the development of the Tennessee State Museum, where she got to open her brain and pour her visions into the colorful, interactive, children’s wing of the museum. She also glows explaining Blake Shelton’s Honkey-Tonks, where she designed stages and wall murals both inside and out of the buildings. Lucie has completed too many projects to describe here, but you can find more on her website. (Lucierice.com).

Cincinnati Race Street Mural of Cincinnati Zoo,

Lucie’s art frequently summons her back home to the place where it all began. She designed The Cincinnati Zoo Mural highlighting Fiona (on Race Street) and the Simms Township Park mural. Lucie also has designed some special pieces spotlighting iconic Ft. Thomas scenes. The Fort Thomas tile trivet (featured in our display) shows our stone tower, bluebirds, and other local scenes. You can also find play carpets she designed (currently used in our kindergarten classes) that include Fort Thomas locations that the children can recognize. We are proud of Lucie and of the contributions our schools made to nurture her career.