Artist Biography
“My life began in Watford, England in 1960. Within weeks we boarded a ship to Ascension Island via Cape Town, South Africa and Saint Helena. My Father’s work meant we would travel. Our next home was on the Island of Viti Levu in Fiji. Then on to Bermuda and back to England before we settled in Burlington, Ontario. Those early years instilled in me a profound respect and appreciation for the out of doors. The move to Canada, so rich in wilderness and wild creatures, would become the blank page upon which I might pursue my art. Within a year and with the help of my art teacher Fin MacKenzie, I was introduced to another local art teacher Robert Bateman. With a few astute words of advice from Bob and a lot of encouragement from my parents, I pushed on and in 1980 organized my first exhibition at the Alice Peck gallery in Burlington. I hadn’t expected what would happen next. This first solo show sold out within three minutes on the preview night. My path became clear. I had to make paintings in a way none had done before nor would ever conceive of again. I had to paint true to myself. In 1982 Thomas Beckett Sr. became my sole dealer and representative. For the next fifteen years I was blessed, as an artist, to be able to evolve naturally, without any pressure to conform to the needs and desires dictated by the market. Later, towards Tom’s eventual retirement, I began exhibiting my work elsewhere and slowly started building international recognition, credibility and patrons. For this I am most grateful. In 2004 I was awarded the coveted ‘Master Wildlife Artist’ Award from the Leigh Yawkey Woodson Art Museum (Wisconsin, U.S.A.). It doesn’t get any better than this. I shall stay on course and pursue my vision with childlike wonder and enthusiasm, until all that remains … is my body of work.” CB
