Join me and my fellow Sumi-e Artists of Canada for our Annual Sumi-e Exhibition and Sale held at the beautiful Japanese Canadian Cultural Centre. Last year, I was honoured to receive 1st prize, known as the Ruth Yamada Award for my sumi-e abstract called ‘Water Logged V2’.
This is a free event with lots of parking. Come see what sumi-e is all about. There will be demos, refreshments and of course, beautiful art.
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.
