MEADOWBROOK STUDIO

I am a watercolour painter and weaver, working from Meadowbrook Studio on Cape Breton Island in Nova Scotia, Canada. I am a weaver, creating scarves, bags, throws and more; I also create two and three-dimensional artworks using textiles, Japanese papers and mixed media. In addition, I am a watercolour painter working on botanicals, landscapes and more. I offer workshops and classes in drawing, watercolour, and tapestry. I hold regular shows and sales in my studio. 

See more work on my Wordpress Blog →

You can find my work at the Flying Kite Artisan Shop in Baddeck, Nova Scotia, at the Cape Breton Centre for Craft and Design, and on The Shores of St. Ann's Bay website. I am a member of the South Haven Weavers Guild. 

I was born in Chicoutimi, Quebec, and grew up on the south shore of Montreal. I graduated from the Ontario College of Art in 1985, specializing in textile design. After completing two years of study at the University of Toronto, I returned to further studies at the Ontario College of Art and Design University (Toronto), graduating in 2010 with a Bachelor of Design degree. I hold a Certificate in Leadership from the Rotman School of Management and a Diploma in Mediation from the University of Toronto.

EDUCATION

2023- present Studies in Botanical Art & Illustration with Olivia Braida Chiusano at the Academicy of Botanical Art in Sarasota, Florida

2010               Ontario College of Art and Design, Bachelor of Design

2008              University of Toronto (Visual Studies & History of Art), completed two years of a                                    B.A. program part-time

2004              University of Toronto, Certificate in Dispute Resolution

2002              University of Toronto, Rotman School of Management, Leadership Executive                                          Advancement Certificate

1985               Ontario College of Art and Design, AOCA Diploma
                       (replaced with B.Des. degree in 2010), Honours

Art and weaving workshops and studies:

CSPWC Watercolour Workshop (online) with Shelley Prior (2024); Artist Network Watercolour Workshop (online) with Poppy Balser (2024); Studies with Olivia Braida Chiusano at the Academy of Botanical Art in Sarasota Florida (2023); Watercolour workshop (online) with Ron Hazel (2023); Mokuhanga Printmaking with Elizabeth Forrest (2018); Intro to Botanical Art, Wyndham Arts, Guelph, ON (2018); Plein Air with Kenny Boone (2017); Watercolour classes (private small group) with Kelley Aitken (2016-17); Watercolour class at the AGO with Kelley Aitken (2016); Watercolour painting with William Rogers (2016); Painting with Leya Evelyn (2016); Advanced Drawing with Kenny Boone (2016); Life drawing at the AGO (2014); Oil painting at OCADU (2014); Pastel painting with Marla Baggetta (2014); Multi-media painting with Diana Sanford (2015); Computer program for weaving at the Gaelic College (2015), NS; Watercolour painting (private group) Michael Janzen (2010-2014); Portraiture with Michael Janzen at Central Technical School, Toronto, ON (2011); Watercolour with Michael Janzen at Central Technical School, Toronto, ON (2012).
 

EXHIBITIONS OF WORK

2019 Jun Fleurish group show, eBar, Guelph, Ontario

2019 May Elora Plein Air Competition Show, Centre Wellington, Ontario

2019 Jan Group textile show, Gerrard Art Space, Toronto, ON

2017 Aug      Joint Show and Sale with Linda Wright, Meadowbrook Studio, N.S.

2014-19       Fibre Festival, Celtic Colours, Baddeck, NS

2015 Oct       Made by Hand Show, South Haven, NS

2015 July      Studio Show & Sale with Linda Wright of Big Hill Pottery, at Meadowbrook Studio, NS

2015              Contributing artist to Line Dufour’s tapestry project:  Fate, Destiny                                                           and Self-Determination

2012 Artist on the West End Art Tour, Roncesvalles Village, Toronto, Fall tour

2010 Sep       The Paper Place, Second Annual 6x8 show, juried, Toronto

2005-09       Annual Shadowbox Show, Textile Museum of Canada, Toronto

1984-90        Annual Studio Show & Sale, Toronto

1989              Ontario Crafts Council, group show (juried), Toronto

1989              Del Bello Gallery, group show (juried), Toronto

1986              Small Expressions, group show (juried), St. Lawrence Centre for the Arts, Toronto

1980              Guitar Academy, Group Show, Toronto

OTHER ACTIVITIES

2021-23 Studio Artist on the Cabot Trail Artisan Map (sponsored by the Cape Breton Centre for Craft and Design), summer season (June-September)

2022 Weaving Instructor, Gaelic College, St. Ann’s, NS, Adult Summer Session

2021-22 Board Member, St. Ann’s Health Group Society, Indian Brook, NS

2016                      Communications Coordinator, Victoria County Silent Auction, Syria
                              to Baddeck Project, February 2016

2014-present        Member, South Haven Weavers Guild

2016-present        Artisan Member, Cape Breton Centre for Craft and Design; juried for watercolour painting and weaving

2015-                     Teaching (private) watercolour and drawing courses in my studio

2014-                      Self-employed artist/weaver, Baddeck, Nova Scotia

2015                       Board Member, Baddeck & Area Farmers and Craft Market

1996-2014              Director, Quality Assurance and Governance, School of Graduate Studies,                                              University of Toronto

2004-2008            Teaching (private) classical piano, grades 1 to 3, part-time

2000-2014             Teaching (private) intro to weaving, drawing for teenagers, part-time

1994-2005              Classical piano study with Sandra Gajic, completed grade 8

1990-2014               Practicing artist, part-time

1985-1990               Operated a private art and weaving studio in downtown Toronto with regular shows & sales

1994-1995                Board Member, Ferncliff Daycare

1993-1994                Board Member, Margaret Fletcher Daycare

1984-1986                Volunteer, Museum for Textiles, Toronto