The Artist

Donna was born and educated in Nova Scotia, mostly self-taught in the arts. Donna cannot recall a time in her life when she didn't want to draw or paint. In her earlier years, she studied under successful Maritime artist John Cook, Ruth Wainwright and Jean Edmonds Handcock.

Her painting persuits were interrupted for some years by the adoption of two native boys and later with the birth of her son. Her painting development was further delayed by a business career to assist with the education of her sons.

On a trip to British Columbia in 1993 Donna studied composition and colour under Louise Woodward of Salt Spring Island, an accomplished artist and teacher. It was after this workshop Donna returned to Nova Scotia to take up painting again seriously.

In 1995 Donna and her husband, Tom, acquired an abandoned historic house in the quaint fishing village known as Indian Harbour, adjacent to Peggy's Cove, just a thirty minute drive from Halifax. With renovations in progress, Donna opened "Rogues Studio Gallery", painting full time in her studio.

In 1997 Donna attended a Colour and Composition Workshop in the South of France: a milestone in her artistic development. While in France she spent a week in Paris touring, "in awe", the gallerys - the Louvre, the D'Orsay, L'Orangerie, etc.

The Families in the village of Indian Harbour live and fish much as their ancestors before them, changed little by the passage of time. The wild and unpredictable sea makes it a hard and cruel life. Donna strives to capture on canvas this way of lifethat she feels will be soon absorbed by our fast changing era.

Donna's interest in this subject runs deeply in her veins. Her ancestors, originally of English and Scottish decent, settled in the early 1800's on the maritime shores of Newfoundland, Cape Breton and Nova Scotia. Her grandfather was the Ship's Chandler in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Her great uncle was the first senator of Newfoundland, and her great grandfather started the major fishing industry in Newfoundland. They were known as the "Codfish Aristocracy".

Donna works mainly in oils, painting not only the life and the people of the sea around her, but is as well in portraiture. Her work is in private collections across Canada, U.S., British Isles and Europe.