Our Artists & Their Stories...
Linda Heslop
Victoria
Vancouver Island
British Columbia
Linda Heslop's work has won wide international acclaim and her paintings can be found in galleries and collections around the world. Most of her work now revolves around her explorations of the Vancouver Island coastline, and the inspiration she receives from the natural world. She works primarily in watercolour.
Linda began drawing at an early age, tutored by her father who was an artist and architect and encouraged her throughout her youth. In her early teens she expanded her drawing and took up painting seriously, with both watercolour and oils. Linda has been a Victoria, British Columbia, resident since 1957. She has now turned her full attention to fine art following her love of West Coast images. As a result, Linda’s realistic style led to work in illustration, logos, magazine covers, feature articles, and several books at an international level.
Kathy Cameron
West Shore
Vancouver Island
British Columbia
Kathy is an award winning artist residing in Victoria, British Columbia. She paints mainly in acrylics and also enjoys watercolour. Kathy's subject of choice are nature and birds indigenous to her surroundings.
Kathy's artwork reveals her passion for anything vintage and seeing beauty in “old” as well as delighting in the fine detail and artistry in nature. She is drawn to the rich colour and delicate markings that occur through time on paper and ephemera and she often uses these treasured pieces as the foundations of her paintings. In her paintings Kathy is devoted to bringing the viewer’s attention to the minute detail that can be seen in our natural world, from the intricate veining in leaves, the tiniest tufts of feathers to the detailed etching seen in a raven’s beak. Kathy is careful to evoke a sense of wonder within her art that will cause the viewer to look deeper and encourage them to stop and see the beauty in the smallest of things.
Kathy spent much of her childhood exploring the pristine forests, marshes and lakes near Prince George and the interior in B.C. Kathy has fond memories spending weekends and summers camping in the remote wilderness. Her most cherished memories were spent with her naturalist father at the "slough", armed with binoculars, camera and a rubber dingy. It was here that her father instilled a deep love and appreciation of birds and nature.
Kathy is a signature member of the Federation of Canadian Artists (AFCA), the past President of the Island Illustrators Society, an elected member of the Society of Canadian Artists (SCA) and a member of the Canadian Whiskey Painters.
Lawrie Dignan
Pender Island
South Gulf Islands
British Columbia
Born in Victoria B.C., I am a self-taught artist using a pen and ink technique which has evolved from my years working as a technical draftsman in British Columbia’s civil service.
In 1990, I apprenticed with a stained glass artisan who would become my mentor. This relationship had a very positive influence on my artwork as it encouraged, supported and gave me the confidence to explore my own direction in drawing with pen & ink.
The contrast of natural and technical is very apparent in my drawings. Using drafting pens and colored inks, I attempt to show the landscape of British Columbia in stylized compositions that project that precision. The bold line work shows contrast with the soft hues of my pointillism. I achieve that affect using an individualized selection of colors rather than the palette of primary colors used in traditional pointillism.
In 2001, I was awarded a solo show at the prestigious BC Festival of the Arts. This helped advance my notability amongst fellow artists and collectors throughout British Columbia.
Today my artworks are found in private and corporate collections around the world.
Ken Foster
North Saanich
Vancouver Island
British Columbia
Ken Foster has lived and worked on the Saanich Peninsula for 30 years. "My roots on Vancouver Island reach back to the 1880s. My artistic style is based on creating a finished product that causes some hesitation in the viewer. I am committed to mood, texture and vividness in my work."
"I don't do very much serious people imaging except for occasional photos for friends and family. I find my images in nature, gardens and buildings. Generally I shoot close to home on the Saanich Peninsula of Vancouver Island."
