I am happiest when painting and thrive on the experiences and adventures as an artist while travelling down this very winding bifurcating road of life.
What started my art career in Toronto’s downtown Chinatown as a child led to exhibiting in China as an adult. Quite the experience indeed.
I am a Toronto-born, international award-winning visual fine artist whose work fuses the traditions of Sumi-e, Chinese Brush Painting, and Western mixed media. Through my art, I explore and celebrate the differences and similarities among cultures—particularly Japanese, Chinese, and North American.
Though my roots are in Scottish bagpipes and English tea, a chance encounter with a Chinese brush painting on an antique tea wagon sparked a lifelong artistic journey. That early moment ignited a creative curiosity that led me to explore what it truly means to live, and create, in a multicultural society.
My art honours centuries-old techniques while looking to the future. I transform inks, rice papers, and layered textures into serene, imaginary worlds that are contemporary, yet grounded in tradition. Each piece whispers a quiet declaration: “I Am Canadian.”
Highlights of my career include:
• Election to both the Society of Canadian Artists and the Federation of Canadian Artists
• Multiple national and international awards, including Japan
• Serving as North American President for the International Chinese Calligraphy and Ink Painting Society, representing artists from eight countries
• Exhibiting in China, with my work held in the permanent collection of the Chinese government
As a non-Asian artist mastering the philosophies and aesthetics of traditional Japanese and Chinese ink art while infusing Canadian narratives, I aim to reimagine tradition, transcend borders, and create space for new perspectives. My practice is a re-wilding of the social graces and an invitation to connect.
