‘The Pond’ on Fogo Island is a location near Joe Batt’s Arm and across from the Fogo Island Inn on this small island off the NE coast of Newfoundland. It offers a different perspective to another painting in this series, Iceberg Alley. I had the most fun with the moose, blending it in with the landscape.
The Pond, Chinese Ink on Washi (Japanese paper)
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.
