Renee grew up in San Antonio, Texas with her mom, Madonna Foley, who  introduced her to a variety of interests such as music, theatre and sports, with competitive swimming becoming her greatest passion in her teen and early adult years. She became a visual artist in college earning a BFA, MA and MFA in ceramics with some emphasis in drawing, painting, mixed media, and art history. She is currently an instructor of the visual arts at the University of Hawaii at Maui College, since 2009. She also worked as a hiking guide in the Maui rainforest for several years, taught yoga, coached swimming and taught high school.  She still enjoys swimming and also surfing, hiking, cycling, yoga and meditation. She continually explores a variety of spiritual practices and devotes much time to the great outdoors.