After graduating from SF Art Institute as a painting major Boatwright spent several years making short experimental films which he showed at many of the cinematheques in Europe. He returned to his home state of South Carolina in 1977 received a National Endowment for the Arts individual artist grant to make documentary films in Charleston. He later became a graduate fellow at AFI film school in Los Angeles. He co-founded a film production company and directed over 100 commercials and made several documentaries. While a filmmaker he maintained an interest in studio painting and was fortunate to return to Charleston SC in 1984 as it began to expand culturally and demographically, and found he could support himself and a growing family by working as a designer, painter, filmmaker and musician. Working under the mantel of Lucky Boy Art his painting evolved into a specialty as Boatwright began creating large murals and hand-painted signs on many exteriors around Charleston. In addition to the signs, he was also being commissioned to make murals and paintings for the interiors of restaurants and was able to sell studio pieces to collectors and commercial establishments. Producing public murals for clients with a rigorous city approval process while maintaining artistic integrity has at times been elusive and difficult. Over time his clients began to give him a wider latitude and he has been able to merge personal expression with the specific needs of a project in a balanced way and to grow as a painter through the experience.