Wildlife biologist and photographer Brady Beck is the featured artist at Eye Candy Gallery in August.

A "Meet the Artist" reception will be held from 6 to 9 p.m. Friday, Aug. 3. The exhibit will remain on display through Aug. 17.

Brady Beck was born in West Lafayette, Ind. He moved with his family to Raleigh in 1986. He earned a bachelor's degree in wildlife science from North Carolina State University in 1992.

Since then he has worked as a biologist for several conservation groups in the Sandhills region of North Carolina. He currently works as a wildlife biologist studying red-cockaded woodpeckers. His photography interests grew out of a desire to capture on film the unique habitats and animals he sees throughout his daily field work.

Beck says he is passionate about conserving the remaining longleaf pine ecosystem in the Sandhills, as well as educating others about the beauty and diversity of plant and animal life that rely on a healthy ecosystem.

Images for this "Meet the Artist" event will include several large canvas prints of coastal and mountain landscapes from North Carolina. The rest of the pieces will be prints of Sandhills critters and landscapes, all custom-framed in reclaimed longleaf pine.

Eye Candy Gallery and Wine Bar features local and regional artists. The gallery is located at 275 NE Broad St., Southern Pines.

Gallery hours are Tuesday through Thursday, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.; and other hours by appointment.

For more information, call (910) 246-2266 or visit the gallery' s website, www. eye-candy-gallery.com.