A Small Stand

Biography

"I was born in Vancouver in 1948 and grew up in Kitimat, B.C. I studied for a Bachelor's degree at Simon Fraser University and completed it at the University of British Columbia in 1971, majoring in Fine Arts. After some time on the crew of the television show "The Beachcombers" and travelling in Europe, I returned to U.B.C. to do some studio courses.

I was drawing extensively during this period. I had my first group show in 1979 and have concentrated on painting since then. I have had many exhibitions during these years in private and public spaces. My work has been included in many charity auctions and other group endeavours and has won awards. The latest of these was an honourable mention in the Torrit Grey Competition sponsored by Gamblin Colors, Portland, Oregon, in 2010.

My early work was entirely photo-based and very detailed, but it has now become looser and more intuitive. It ranges between abstraction that verges on representation and representation that verges on abstraction. I work in acrylics, and other media when appropriate for the work underway in my studio. I have been working in Mission, B.C. since July, 2011.
(My)...new work continues my exploration of the interfaces between land and water. Such interfaces include biologically rich and diverse wetlands and beaches, which are ecologically important. They show rhythms of change in the movements of water, wind and plants: visible flux. A secluded rainy beach, where grasses that are rooted in gravel and driftwood sway with the incoming tide, is an unmarked memorial to my mother. A sandy open beach at low tide, with rounded high white clouds scudding across a blue sky, is an unmarked memorial to my father. The memories of those beaches seem to have been made such a long time ago."
from writings of the artist, Veronica Plewman.