Artist Statement
I’ve been drawing and painting all my life. My first art memory is from nursery school, painting a big, juicy snake.
My style combines representation, abstraction, and the pleasures of my media.
I’m drawn to our environment and the value people place on our natural resources and economy.
Lately I’ve been working in soft pastels and mixed media, using geological maps and navigational charts as my substrate. I’m also exploring sculptural assemblies made from trash.
I live in Meaford, Ontario.
Education
1980 Bachelor of Fine Arts, Nova Scotia College of Art & Design, Halifax
1981 Commercial Art Diploma, George Brown College 1979 Ontario College of Art / University of Toronto
Other Influences
1979 Scenic artist at the Shaw Festival, National Ballet of Canada, the Canadian Opera Company, Young People’s Theatre, The Tarragon Theatre. 1979 Earthworks intern with Betty Goodwin, Story Mann, and Buster Simpson at ArtPark, Lewiston, New York.
1978 Interned in New York City with Ann Wilson, and Mary Brecht.
Exhibitions
2025 Craig Gallery, Smalls Show, Meaford
Local Colour, Art Garden Sculpture, Flesherton
Art in the Valley, Kimberley
2024 Grey Gallery, Owen Sound, August
Walter’s Falls Group of Artists, Annual Show, August
Craig Gallery, Meaford 150, June
2013 RBC Dominion Securities “Art Impact”, Finalist
Temiskaming Art Gallery, Spiritual Paintings
2012 Lake Temagami Artists’ Exhibition, Bear Island, Temagami
2007 Gallery on the Grand, Agriculture & Art
1997 Northern Ontario Artists' Association, Annual Exhibition
1992 Lion’s Head Art Show, Lion’s Head, Ontario
Grand Trunk Railway Station, Wiarton, Ontario
National Ballet of Canada, O'Keefe Centre, Toronto
1991 The Royal Winter Fair, Tanbark Club, Toronto, Ontario
1990 The National Ballet of Canada, O'Keefe Centre, Toronto
1980 Grad Show, Anna Leonowins Gallery, Halifax
1979 Gallery 76, Toronto, Ontario
Awards
2012 Ontario Arts Council, Exhibition Assistance Grant
1997 Northern Ontario Artists Association, Katherine Burgman Memorial Award for watercolour: Indian Graveyard, Cape Crocker, 1995
Teaching
1994–2012 Watercolour workshops, Smoothwater of Temagami, Ontario
2000-07 Temagami Public School, art teacher
1992-93 The McMichael Canadian Art Collection, Kleinberg, Ontario
1992 Mooredale House, Toronto, Ontario
1991-93 The Traveling Studio, Wiarton, Ontario
Community Arts
2024 Moving Water Performance for Save Georgian Bay, Meaford, Ontario
1995-2013 Arts Presenter/House Concerts, Smoothwater of Temagami, Ontario
2012 String Quartet Masterclass with Silver Birch String Quartet, Smoothwater
2009-10 Board member, Temagami Artistic Collective
2008 Iceworks conception/execution with Temagami Public School
2007 Set designer/painter, The Pied Piper, Temagami Public School
In the Press
Wild Ontario: An Artist's And Photographer's Guide
By Rob Stimpson and Craig Thompson
Co-founder
Co-founded Smoothwater of Temagami, an ecotourism center focusing on wilderness adventures, experiential learning, and art making. Operating from 1994-2014.
