| ARTIST BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH: | Edward Hardy (Ted) Harrison’s distinctive style of painting is both colourful and sophisticated, yet retains an innocent charm. It has made him one of Canada’s most popular artists. In 1943, he enrolled in the Hartlepole College of Art (Hartlepole, UK) to study art and design, but the Second World War interrupted his education. Following military service, he returned to the Hartlepole College of Art and in 1948 received a Diploma in Design. The following year he received a teaching certificate from the University of Durham (UK) and began a twenty-eight year career in education. In 1977, Harrison received his B.Ed from the University of Alberta (Edmonton, AB). Harrison had a great interest in travel and taught in many different parts of the world, including Malaysia, and New Zealand, before immigrating to Canada with his family. They settled in the small town of Carcross just outside Whitehorse, YK. In May, 1969, Harrison had his first art showing at the Public Library in Whitehorse.
As an artist he is known for his bold, colourful paintings and silk screen prints of life in the Yukon. Because many of Ted Harrison’s paintings had numerous colours, the degree of difficulty in making his prints was heightened. Ted Harrison’s artwork translates well to the medium of serigraphy because of the areas of solid colour and clear delineations. His print editions were limited to a run of 200. In addition to his work as a painter, Harrison has written several children’s books and illustrated both The Cremation of Sam McGee and The Shooting of Dan McGrew by Robert Service. Other projects include his design of the Yukon Pavilion for Vancouver Expo’ 86 and the design of a Canada Post Christmas Stamp in 1996.
His paintings can be found in private and public collections throughout Canada, and in New Zealand, Japan, Germany and the United States. In 1987 he received the Order of Canada for his contribution to Canadian culture. He was awarded a honourary doctorate from The University of Athabasca (AB) in 1991, a honourary doctorate in Fine Arts from The University of Victoria (BC) in 1998 and a distinguished Alumni Award from University of Alberta (AB) in 2002. He also holds an honorary doctorate of Law. In 1993 he moved to Victoria, British Columbia to continue his painting and writing. He was inducted into the Royal Canadian Academy of Art in 2005. |