Artist Gallery for 2026
The Purple Painter
Karen and Dutchie from the Purple Painter are Rats Nest staples on Artist Alley. They are part of the Rats Nest Family for over a decade, They bring a Rat Rod Family feeling to Legends Row in the swap meet area! ​
Karen was involved in a motorcycle accident 35 years ago this season. The accident caused permanent damage to her nerves that severely limit the use of her left hand and arm. It certainly did not limit he spirit. Karen was usure if she would ever paint again....
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She remembers her first artwork that she ever created for someone else was at the age of 9.
She tells me the story of Sparky asking her to create a distressed sign for him many years ago.
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After meeting Sparky, he introduced Karen to what she now calls,her car family. With their enthusiasm and help, Karen was interested in painting again and created her own style of distressed signs. She learned that by doing distressed lettering on their vehicles in the newly found Sparkys Family.
"We love going to the shows and meeting new people and seeing our car family​, I have quite a few customers that come back to me every yearTo paint something for them which keeps me loving what I do."
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She now creates art with her Partner Dutchie. They travel show to show selling her creations.
"I would not be able to do this without the help of my man, Dutchie. He keeps my spirits going even when things are difficult."---Love Karen
Stitchs Garage
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STITCH'S GARAGE old school pinstriping and garage art Plaistow N.H.
Stitch has been pinstriping for 14 years.
Sue (Stitchs Wife) handles the cartoons and characters
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Paul millinchuck
Paul is one of the founding fathers of Rats Nest Run In, and the MC on the Legends Field Stage. He also designs the majority of art work for the mercandise, and has a big influence on the success of the festival! We are lucky to have Paul as part of the team!
I’ve been creating all my life -it’s just what I do-i bounce from building cars to drawing,making crazy furniture, oil can robots, bowling pin characters and whatever stimulates at that time -I was a illustrator for 10 years at corporate office of Toys R Us-so by day I’d draw and by night I’d build my Hotrod’s -I also was a model maker for Sky Kids -that’s stuff paid the bills -but the stuff I create at home is the thrills -I also freelance doing pinup photography and Hotrod features in various magazines.-Paul Millinchuck.
