Biography

Born in Edmonton, Alberta, my early exposure to the visual arts was through classes sponsored by the Edmonton Art Gallery and through the Student’s Union at the University of Alberta, where I later enrolled in the Bachelor of Fine Arts program. Training in drawing, painting and sculpture was supplemented by a visiting artist workshop program; Paterson Ewen was a participant in this program and an early mentor. Degree work was supplemented by the experience of attending two consecutive summer programs at the Emma Lake campus of the University of Saskatchewan, where Otto Rogers was a particular influence. At the University of Alberta, having twice been awarded the Ashland Oil Canada Prize, I graduated with distinction with the BFA designation.

I moved to Toronto almost immediately following, and set up a studio in the west end of the city. I worked part time as a sculpture assistant, and was grateful to receive an Ontario Arts Council grant shortly thereafter. I achieved some small recognition through participation in shows including “Young Contemporaries” at the London Regional Art Gallery, and through several shows sponsored by Gallery Quan in Toronto, most notably “Aspects of Landscape” and subsequently “Miniatures”.