You Are Here: 2024 Calendar

Nestled against the mountains, stretching out to the Salish Sea, the North Shore region is a 15 minute seabus ride from downtown Vancouver. Known for its natural setting offering hiking, biking, skiing, snowshoeing, and paddling, the area also has a thriving cultural scene with galleries, theatres, museums and events happening year round. Explore opportunities at  Northshoreculturecompass.ca .

Artist Statement and Bio Since her early days as a portrait artist in Dubrovnik, Biljana followed her quest for travel and art. Pursuing her passion for both, she embarked on a unique artistic journey that would take her through many countries in Europe and to Canada and acquire collectors locally and abroad.

As I continued to evolve as an artist, my curiosity led me to explore a variety of subject matters; portraits, landscapes and mundane scenes that often hold the extraordinary.

I enjoy experimenting with a variety of mediums whether it is pastel, gouache, acrylic or oil, to bring a unique quality to my art that each technique conveys. With a special affinity for capturing the light and mood of the subject, I draw inspiration from my experiences and the places I have lived in.

This painting was inspired by the photograph that I took this January as the sun was setting and reflecting on the snow-capped North Shore mountains. There was a golden glow reflecting from the glass buildings and windows that looked spectacular.

@biljanajones1  https://www.biljanajones.com/ 

This place is called Sḵ’íw̓itsut in the Sḵwx̱wú7mesh sníchim (Squamish language). Following his arrival in the area, Captain Vancouver named this point after his friend Thomas Atkinson of the British Royal Navy.

The lighthouse is a national historic site built in 1912, replacing an earlier building from 1875. The park surrounding the lighthouse is biologically rich and an example of an old-growth coastal forest with an array of trails to explore.

Artist Statement and Bio My sketches focus on a ‘sense of place’. They are an exploration of the locations and experiences in our daily life that we each share, and that forge our collective sense of community. My sketches are about nostalgia and whimsy and the joy of what it means to live in a place like West Vancouver.

Lighthouse Park is one of those special locations where, even though you are only minutes away from the hustle of everyday life, you feel like you might be standing at the edge of where civilization ends, and true wilderness begins. With its windswept trees and massive rocks, and the smell of the salt air as you look out to the lone lighthouse and the Pacific beyond, there’s a sense of solitude and being more deeply connected with nature.

Ian was born and raised on the North Shore. He works primarily in pen and ink and his sketches focus on everyday settings in and around West Vancouver. Ian and his family live in Dundarave. When not sketching he also works as a teacher and librarian with the North Vancouver School District. He shares his art online under the moniker “Sketchy West Vancouver”.

 sketchywestvancouver.com/ 

Located between the Seymour and Lynn rivers, the area known as Ch’ich’elxwí7ḵw to the Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) people was called Seylynn by European settlers. The neighbourhood includes forested trails, playgrounds, playing fields, and a very popular skate park. Built in 1978, Seylynn is likely Canada’s oldest surviving skate park. Designed by skateboarders, the park is accessible to all levels to be able to carve or surf down the banks of the bowl while controlling speed. 

Artist Statement and Bio My connection to people, animals, and nature inspires me to inspire through brush and paint. The passion I bring to my work is to create stories and emotions greater than my own. Painting is my solitude; my blank canvas space to reflect and appreciate all that is great. Working with acrylic as my primary medium as I enjoy the speed at which I can capture my impressions. My wish is that one day you will find a connection in my work that brings you joy.

 The inspiration for my painting comes from my daily walks and runs with my dog Ella in our beautiful little gem Lynn Creek- Seylynn Park. Now with the newly built bridge it is even more awesome. The skate park is a work of art. Each week there is a new tapestry of work in the skate bowl that puts a smile on my face. This skate park is history, it is the oldest skate park in Canada! I thought how fitting to invite people that can now reach the park by the Spirit Trail.

@tewc.art  paintingsbytewc.com 

The corner of Chesterfield Avenue and 5th Street in the City of North Vancouver is like a storybook place of bright colours, friendly creatures, and welcoming places.  Quayside Village is a co-housing community that is multigenerational, culturally diverse, and sustainability-focused with award-winning gardens.  Outside the corner café is a shipping container parklet designed by Sinámḵin Jody Broomfield (Sḵwx̱wú7mesh/Squamish Nation), inspired by local wildlife. 

Artist Statement and Bio Akemi Emma Ito is a mixed-media illustrator. Originally from Japan, and now living on the West Coast of Canada, her creative style and drawings are influenced by both Eastern and Western cultures. She works in watercolor, pen and ink, and colored pencils. Her favorite lunch ritual involves coffee and a daily sketch. She has been an active member of SCBWI (Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators) since 2014.

@mypicturebookcafe  mypicturebookcafe.org/ 

The area where land meets the sea provides opportunities to connect with the rest of the world. Since 1928, grain terminals in North Vancouver have received grain from the Prairies by rail, shipping it all along the Pacific Rim. The waterfront is an industrial powerhouse with shipbuilding, port services, marine technologies, and marine transportation. The point of land at the west of the grain terminals is called s7ayḵs by the Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) people. 

Artist Statement and Bio I see these elevators every day. I’m fascinated by the colour changes on their surfaces as the days and seasons change. They also provide views of the many ships that visit, some very colorful also. In some lights, the reflected colors on the water are magical.

Rick Cuff studied painting and design in Sweden and England. He taught at universities in England and Canada while continuing his graphic designer and painter practice. His paintings involve lots of colors and are based on observations in nature in tandem with ideas formed in his imagination. His work as a painter has evolved, from using color-intense oils to faster-drying acrylics to keep up with his rapidly evolving work.

 northvanarts.ca/profiles/rick-cuff/ 

Officially named Centennial Seawalk, this 1.7 km paved trail follows the foreshore between Dundarave and Ambleside, or Smelákw’a and Swáy̓wi in Sḵwx̱wú7mesh sníchim (Squamish language). Strolling along the seawalk provides views of the Salish Sea when heading west, and views of iconic West Vancouver architecture, like the Pink Palace, when heading east. 

Artist Statement and Bio Natasha Dash grew up in the Okanagan and has resided on the North Shore for the last 15+ years. She has always loved living close to the water and mountains. One of her favorite North Shore activities is walking along the West Vancouver Centennial Sea Wall year-round.

 Natasha Dash discovered her love for drawing patterns in 2016 when she was introduced to a method of drawing called Zentangle. Natasha loved the art form so much that in 2017 she attended the 26 ^th  Certified Zentangle Teacher Seminar in Providence Rhode Island, USA. Since then, Natasha has enjoyed sharing her knowledge and passion for “tangling” with people of all ages. As a lifelong learner, Natasha also enjoys exploring new mediums to add “tangles” to create unique and interesting artwork.  

dashtangles.com 

Carving its way through granite rocks, the waterway is called  X̱á7elcha Swa7lt by the Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) people. Settlers to the area called it Lynn Creek after John Linn who built a cottage at the mouth of the creek in 1869. Since 1912, Lynn Canyon Park is a temperate rainforest with second growth cedar, fir, and hemlock. Hiking trails, a suspension bridge 50 metres over the canyon, and refreshing swimming pools make it popular for all ages. Currents can be dangerously strong in this place so close to residential neighbourhoods, yet still wild. 

Artist Statement and Bio Alfonso L. Tejada is an architect, urban designer, ‘plein air’ artist, and watercolour painting instructor. Alfonso was trained in Mexico and Canada; he now lives and works in North Vancouver.  

Alfonso has been involved with many local and international ‘plein air’ watercolour events, such as Vancouver’s Cherry Blossom Festival, West Vancouver's Harmony Arts Festival, and FabrianoInoAcquarello and UrbanoInoAquarello in Italy. He has actively participated in international exhibitions in Spain, Portugal, and Italy. He continues his painting adventure on the trails and streets of the North Shore. 

 https://alfonsotejada.com/  

Called Ch’axáy̓ by the Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) people for the sizzling sound of herring that used to fill these waters, this body of water has been known as Horseshoe Bay since 1914. The village was called White Cliff City in 1909 and changed to Horseshoe Bay in 1959. Overfishing and pollution led to the destruction of the herring population, however this area is included in the Átl’ḵa7tsem (Howe Sound) Biosphere Region, established in 2021 to implement United Nations sustainable development goals, including ‘life below water’. The ferry terminal established in 1951 has been operated by BC Ferries since 1961. 

Artist Statement and Bio My ink and watercolour sketches aim to capture a snapshot of a building, landmark, or scenery at a particular point in time. My combined interests in urban planning, architecture, and art create a unique perspective to allow viewers to experience various places they may already recognize or want to explore within Metro Vancouver and beyond.

Dilys was born and raised in the Metro Vancouver area and currently resides in the Tri-Cities. She has enjoyed doing art since a young age. She later studied urban planning in university. With her background and interest in planning, Dilys is curious and fascinated by the surrounding environment. Her ink and watercolour sketches tend to focus on buildings, cities, and the urban landscape. Besides working on her own art, Dilys also enjoys being involved in the local community. This includes exploring the city by meeting up with other fellow planners as part of a local urban sketch club.  

 https://dilysarts.carrd.co/ 

The səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh), who have inhabited this land since time immemorial, call this area Guy-angulton, meaning ‘sheltered place’. səlilwətaɬ means, ‘people of the inlet’, one of many groups of Coast Salish peoples whose knowledge of the lands and waters has shaped their people. This place is also known as Átsnach by the Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) people. Called Deep Cove by the Europeans who settled the area in the early 1900s, the calm waters provide opportunities for paddling and sailing.  

Artist Statement and Bio Deep Cove was the first place my family and I visited when we arrived in North Van. As my kids played in the playground, my husband and I sat on the grass, gazing out at the mountains and the sea. This landscape was a stunning tribute to the power and beauty of the ocean, and a memento of a beautiful summer day shared together.

Mara Dias is an embroidery artist who is deeply passionate about the interplay of colour, texture, and form. Mara lives in North Vancouver, but she is originally from Brazil. Nature is a constant source of inspiration for her pieces. By carefully selecting colours and threads that evoke the feeling of a particular landscape or ecosystem, she aims to create work that not only celebrates nature but also encourages others to appreciate the beauty of the world around them.  

@popstitchclub  www.etsy.com/shop/popstitchclub   

Looking west from the North Shore provides spectacular sunsets, but the location also makes the area at high risk from climate change impacts. This image shows areas of the foreshore that could be underwater if sea levels continue to rise in dark orange. Municipalities, First Nations, and the port authority are preparing for a one-metre increase by 2100, and a two-metre increase by 2200.  

Artist Statement and Bio The West Coast is spiritual. Clouds, mountains, and the ocean are all spectacular and speak with you. Fall in the West painting shows potentially vulnerable areas regarding the Sea Level Rise on the West Coast. The warm colours represent the danger of going down (a ‘fall’) if we do not act now. With strategic planning we will ensure a safe community for everyone to enjoy it.

Sahar is fascinated by the mountains, trees, and ocean on the North Shore, and how infrastructures are harmonically integrated into nature. As a North Shore resident, sustainability instructor, and flood prevention engineer, Sahar is concerned about the effects of climate change, and sea-level rise. Sahar uses art to bring awareness to how we need to plan strategically for the future, and how we will need everyone’s involvement.  

@artohydrical    https://ahdwebs.com/ 

Located east of Eslha7án, the Burrard Dry Dock pier extends 200 metres over the water, providing excellent views of the inlet and the foreshore of North Vancouver. Established as Wallace Shipyards in 1906, then Burrard Dry Dock Company in 1921, the first floating drydock was installed four years later. Many ships were built here and launched from the shipyard, including the St. Roch, the first ship to travel the Northwest Passage and to circumnavigate North America. 

Artist Statement and Bio I paint because painting is my happy place. What makes me particularly happy is sharing those good feelings. I think of myself as both a creative and organic artist and believe I can capture that organic beauty outside my door in North Vancouver. I love painting Lower Lonsdale landscapes which I discover on my daily walks in my neighborhood. My goal is to produce paintings of ordinary places and landmarks that people might pass every day, but do not really see.  

Stella Kent is a North Vancouver watercolor artist who studied Art at the University of Regina and took further classes at Langara College. She loves to capture the beauty of her Lower Lonsdale neighborhood and much-loved places from her travels around the world, transforming them into watercolour paintings, greeting cards, and prints.  

 http://stellabellaartwork.com/  

Settlers named the mountain and river in the eastern area of the North Shore after Frederick Seymour, Governor of the Colony of British Columbia, and established a provincial park in 1936. The Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) name for the Mt. Seymour area and Seymour River is Ch’ich’elxwí7ḵw in Squamish language. 

The BC Mountaineering Club first climbed Mt. Seymour in 1908 and by the 1940s a community of over 200 cabins was built. Since the road was built in 1951 the mountain has become popular for snowsports, hiking, and biking. The views are spectacular in all seasons. 

Artist Statement and Bio Riitta graduated from Sheridan College of Art and Design in Oakville, Ontario. Riitta worked in Toronto as a graphic artist, mainly in educational publishing. After spending some time in Florence, Italy studying art, she moved to Vancouver to continue working as a freelance artist. Riitta is a member of the Federation of Canadian Artists, North Shore Artists Guild, West Vancouver Community Arts Council (WVCAC), and North Van Arts. Riitta has participated in many shows at the Federation Gallery, other venues include the Ferry Building Gallery, Silk Purse Gallery, Harmony Arts Festival, and shows with North Shore Artists Guild. Her work has been shown in venues in Finland and Italy.  

 https://www.riittapeirone.ca