Bio

I was born in Victoria in 1954 and raised in Vancouver Point Grey. My art career started at age fifteen when I discovered the world of fibre arts; I discovered acrylic painting in 1988.

I have enjoyed a career as a teacher and a biologist and now spend my retirement painting. I owned and operated the Leighdon Studio Gallery on West 3rd Avenue in Vancouver. The commercial business closed in 2010 and is now run as a home-based business which publishes the books “Artists of British Columbia”.

Artist’s Statement:

I strive to capture the world around me through colour and through texture.

I work mostly with palette knives in my colourful “City Series”. For these works I try to capture the brilliant jewel-like colours of the city life and the excitement that surrounds us.

In my softer-toned "Beach Series" I try to capture a gentle, misty, and peaceful feeling of the tidal areas of our west coast beaches. For these paintings I use the texture and movement of the paints themselves.

“Every day for me is a great day to be alive and to be creative.”

EDUCATION

1988   M.Sc., University of British Columbia, BC
1980   P.D.P. Teaching Certification, Simon Fraser University, BC
1976   B.Sc., University of Victoria, BC

ART EDUCATION COURSES

2007   Canadian Picture Framers School, BC
2002   Sheffield School of Interior Design, Ontario
2001   Vancouver Academy of Art, BC
1992   Capilano College, North Vancouver, BC
1988   Sheridan College, Brampton, Ontario

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE AND PREVIOUS EMPLOYMENT

2008 – 2010   Leighdon Studio Gallery, Vancouver, BC
1989 – 2005   Lab Instructor, Capilano College, BC
1980 – 1990   Teacher, BC and Ontario
1974 – 1978   Biologist Fish & Wildlife Branches Nanaimo, Smithers, Vernon
Water Investigations Branch Vernon, BC

ART EXHIBITIONS

SOLO
2011 – Present
      Office Exhibit and sales, Coast Reporting Services, 808 Nelson, Vancouver, BC
2005   Centennial Theatre, North Vancouver, BC
2003   “Biogeoclimatic Zones of B.C.”, Maple Ridge Art Gallery, BC
1997   “Textures in Acrylic”, West Vancouver Memorial Library, BC
1996   Le Jardin, Vancouver, BC
1995   Capilano College Library Gallery, North Vancouver, BC
1995   “Acrylics and Multimedia”, Silk Purse Gallery, West Vancouver, BC

GROUP
2012   “Sans Brush” exhibition North Vancouver, BC
2012   Sechelt Festival of the Arts, Sechelt, BC Honourable Mention award
2012   Representation - Agora Gallery, New York, USA
2011   “Anonymous Show”, North Vancouver, BC
2011   Sechelt Festival of the Arts, Sechelt, BC
2010   “Momentum: 25 artists/ From Past to Present”, Leighdon Studio Gallery, Vancouver, BC
2009   “Nudes for Breast Cancer Awareness “, Leighdon Studio Gallery, Vancouver, BC
2008   “Beyond Borders: An Exhibition of Fine Art from Canada”, Agora Gallery, New York, USA
2005   “Anonymous Show”, North Vancouver Arts Council, BC
2003   “The Final Curtain”, Seymour Art Gallery, North Vancouver, BC
2002   “FANS exhibition”, North Vancouver Arts Council, BC
2001   The University Women’s Club of Vancouver, BC
2001   Silent Auction, Arts Club Theatre Company, Vancouver, BC
1998   “Artists Across the Inlet”, ZheeClay Arts Gallery, Vancouver, BC
1996   “The Love of Art”, Jacqueline Frances Gallery, North Vancouver, BC
1995   Foghorn Boutique, West Vancouver, BC
1993   “Discovery ‘93”, Seymour Art Gallery, North Vancouver, BC

PUBLICATIONS

Art Related:
2001   Room of One’s Own Magazine (23:2) (ISBN 0316-1609)
2008   ArtisSpectrum Magazine Volume 19: page 42
2009   Nudes for Breast Cancer Awareness Catalogue (ISNB 978-0-9783296-1-7) page 29
2010   Momentum Catalogue, Coast Art Trust
2010   Artists of British Columbia Volume 1 (ISBN 978-0-9783296-4-8) pages 70-71
2010   Colour & Texture (ISBN 978-0-9783296-6-2) Biography
2011   Artists of British Columbia Volume 2 (ISBN 978-0-9783296-7-9) (edit/publ. only)
2012   Artists of British Columbia Volume 3 (ISBN 978-0-9783296-8-6) (edit/publ. only)
2014   Artists of British Columbia Volume 4 (ISBN 978-0-9919876-0-3)

Other:
1986   Canadian Journal of Zoology 65: pages 1567-1569
1988   Proc. Helminthological Soc. Wash. 55: pages 155-159
1988   Canadian Journal of Zoology 66: pages 1502-1505
1990   Canadian Journal of Zoology 68: pages 531-538

PUBLIC COLLECTIONS

Vancouver General Hospital public collection, Vancouver, BC
University of British Columbia Hospital, UBC, BC
Lions Gate Hospital Foundation, North Vancouver
St. Paul’s Hospital Foundation, Vancouver
VGH & UBC Hospital Foundation, Vancouver
Vernon Jubilee Hospital, Vernon