Valerie Russell was born and educated in England and now resides in Scarborough, Ontario, Canada. She is a self-taught artist having taken many workshops with professional artists across Canada which has enhanced her experience.
Valerie uses watercolour & oils as her mediums, painting wildlife, landscapes and florals and has twice traveled to the Canadian High Arctic to personally experience the effect of climate change on the melting ice and the flora and fauna of the area. Her painting “Waiting for the Ice to Form” an 18” x 24” Oil on Canvas, was featured in the Toronto Star in January 2007 and now resides in the permanent collection of Arctic paintings at the Vancouver Maritime Museum in BC.
Valerie is a member of the Art the Guild of Scarborough; Cedar Ridge Studio Gallery; Pine Ridge Arts Council; Central Ontario Art Assoc.; East Central Ontario Art Assoc. and the Toronto Watercolour Society. Her paintings have been displayed in exhibits across Canada; the USA; the United Kingdom & Italy.
She has received many awards of merits from her peers including Order of Canada Artist, the late Doris McCarthy. Her work is held in many collections across Canada, the United States, Italy, South Africa, Taiwan and the United Kingdom.
CITIZENSHIP: Canadian & U.K. (Born Hampshire, England)
PAINTING MEDIUMS: Oil & Watercolour
PAINTING SUBJECTS: Land/Seascapes: Florals: Wildlife
EXHIBITIONS (JURIED):
Toronto Watercolour Society (TWS) 2008 – 2019 (inclusive)
Art Guild of Scarborough – 1985 – 2019 (inclusive)
Cedar Ridge Creative Centre – Studio Gallery – 2007: 2008: 2012: 2015
Toronto Art Expo – 2006 – 2009 (inclusive)
Casa Loma – Art at the Castle – 2008
Gibson Centre, Aliston, ON – 2008
Gallery at ‘The Club at Bond Head’ – 2006: 2007: 2008
Bluffs Gallery, Toronto – 2007
McMichael Gallery, Klienberg – 2006 & 2007
Varley Gallery – Artists’ Odysseys – The Arctic – 2006
Hummingbird Centre or the Performing Arts – 2006
Lions Art Show – Cobourg Waterfront Festival – 2003 – 2006
C.S.P.W.C. (Canadian Society of Painters in Watercolour) “Open Water” 2004
E.C.O.A.A. – Barrie; Etobicoke; Meaford; Belleville; Algonquin Park; Brockville College
Scarborough Civic Centre, ON – Rotunda
GROUP EXHIBITIONS:
ARCTIC QUEST TRAVELING EXHIBITIONS & GROUP EXHIBITS
Iqaluit: Yellowknife: Penn State Coll. USA: Alaska;
Calgary, AB; Cobourg, ON
Vancouver Maritime Museum – Permanent Collection
Spoleto – Umbria – Italy – Canadian Artists – Permanent Collection
Westmount Gallery, Toronto – 2007/08/09
Gallery at ‘The Club at Bond Head’ 2006, 2007 & 2008
Barber Gallery, Guelph – 2007: Columbus Centre, Toronto 2007
Gallery on the Grand – Waterloo 2006
Gallery Wall – Gold Picture Frame, Toronto – 2013
McMichael Canadian Art Collection, Kleinberg 2006
Arts & Letters Club, Toronto – Arctic Quest 2006 & 2007
T.D. Centre – Toronto 2006: Georgina Art Centre – Sutton 2006
Win Henstock Gallery – Oakville 2006
Markham Theatre – ARCTIC ARTISTS
JD Carrier – Columbus Centre, Toronto 2009 & 2010
Cedar Ridge Studio Gallery
Spoleto, Italy – 2010
SOLO EXHIBITS:
Gallery Wall – Gold Picture Frame, Toronto – 2010
Dentistry – Liverpool Road, Pickering – 2008: 2013: 2015
Agincourt Library – Toronto
Bluffs Gallery, Scarborough
ART TOURS:
Italy – 2010
Canadian Arctic & Greenland – 2005 & 2006
Quebec: PEI: Nova Scotia: New Brunswick: Newfoundland – 2003
Alberta: British Columbia
Western Hebrides, Scotland: Paris, France
AFFILIATIONS (ALPHABETICALLY):
Art Guild of Scarborough
East Central Ontario Art Association
Scarborough Arts Council (Member Emeritus)
Toronto Watercolour Society
COLLECTIONS:
Corporate & Private Collections in:
Canada
USA
South Africa
Taiwan
Italy
the UK
AWARDS:
TWS – City of Toronto Volunteer Award -2013 & Signature Membership – 2012
TWS – Dorothy Blefgen Memorial Award – Best use of Colour – 2011
Member Emeritus – S.A.C. – Outstanding Volunteer Performance – 2002
Scarborough Arts Council – Grand Prize – Adult Category – Poetry – 1997
Recreation, Parks & Culture – Arts Administration – 1993
‘Awards of Merit’ from Professional Peers (including the late Doris McCarthy)
ART EDUCATION & WORKSHOPS:
Haliburton School of Fine Arts, Ontario
Cedarbrae Collegiate (continuing education): Cedar Ridge Creative Centre
Bridgewater Retreat – Tweed, Ontario; Elora School of Art – Ontario
Geneva Park, Orillia: E.C.O.A.A. 2011 – 2018
TWS: Watercolours by June Martin – W/C Society of America
