Artists of Canadian Coins


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€ All information pertaining to a particular artist is from the Royal Canadian Mint's website (www.mint.ca) unless otherwise indicated.
Germaine Arnaktauyok
Germaine Arnaktauyok is renowned for her talents as an illustrator and master printmaker. The daughter of carvers Therese Nattok and Isidore Iytok, she started to draw on any material available while still a young girl in Igloolik. When she was sent to residential school at Chesterfield Inlet at age nine, she met a nun who gave her art lessons. Germaine sold her first painting at age 11.
Since then she has participated in a variety of courses including one year at the University of Manitoba in the Fine Arts program and studied commercial art at the Pembroke Campus of Algonquin College in Ottawa. Germaine has also completed a printmaking course sponsored by the Arctic College and Arts Induvik Canada. She is one of the few Inuit artists with formal art training.
While in Ottawa Germaine Arnaktauyok also illustrated children's books for Northern and Indian Affairs. Her illustrations are also included in children's books from the Baffin Divisional Board of Education, as well as Hyperion Press in Winnipeg and for Nick Nicol, a Canadian author published in Japan.
The ideas for Germaine's work stem from traditional Inuit legends and from living and witnessing the unique lifestyle of her people. Her unique, paradoxical character parallels her creative sensibilities: she is a simple woman, yet sophisticated; proud, yet modest; contemporary urban yet traditionally rural. As for subject matter, Germaine is particularly interested in female entities and concerns- the sea goddess Sedna, creation and birth- which are expressed in very personal ways that humanize the subject.
Germaine's image of an Inuit drum dancer now appears on the 2000 edition of the Canadian $2 coin.
From: http://www.canadahouse.com/dynamic/artists/Germaine_Arnaktauyok.asp

Susanna Blunt
Susanna started her studies at the Banff school of Fine Arts as a young teenager. After finishing high school she had a year of private lessons in Victoria, B.C. She moved to London, England and did four years of art school, then won a scholarship to the Royal Academy for another four years, during which she won several awards and a silver medal.
The year before graduating she held her first one-woman show at the Canadian Art Galleries in Calgary, Alberta, and then returned to England to complete the work for her diploma.
The following year she worked with Yoko Ono, assisting her with various art projects and was invited with David Hockney to jury a national art competition. She then moved to California and started a teaching career. She lived in the San Francisco Bay area for three years before returning to Vancouver, and continued teaching in both private and public institutions, including three years on the faculty of the Fine Arts Department at the University of British Columbia.
She became known for her trompe l'oeil paintings and designed the optical illusion room for the Science World museum in Vancouver in 1988.
In 1991 and 92, she lived in France and took part in five shows, group and solo, winning an award in an international competition.
From: http://www.bluntart.com/biography.html

Colette Boivin
Colette Boivin was born in Jonquiere, Quebec. At the age of 19, she pursued extensive studies at the Academie de la Grande Chaumiere in Paris, at the Atelier Goetz, Paris and finished her education at the Ecole Nationale Superieur des Beaux-Arts de Paris in 1979.
Colette specializes in engraving, nude studies, and pottery. Her career as a professional artist began flourishing in 1988, when she presented her first solo exhibition in Ottawa at the Gallerie d'Art Saint-Laurent. After her success in Ottawa, Colette Boivin's work was displayed in various exhibitions around the world. {April 18, 2002}

Robert-Ralph Carmichael
Robert-Ralph Carmichael was born in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario. Mr. Carmichael is a graduate of both The Ontario College of Art in Toronto and Carleton University in Ottawa.
The major theme of Robert-Ralph Carmichael's work is the human condition. Mr. Carmichael portrays how he perceives humans relating to their environment and to each other.
Carmichael has permanent collections in many art institutes around Canada including the Glenbow Alberta Institute in Calgary, the Peter Whyte Foundation in Banff, Alberta and the Canadian Art Bank in Ottawa. Mr. Carmichael has had solo exhibitions since 1972. Some of his known art series consist of "Tango" and "Studies and Reflections." In 1998, he designed the "Loon Stamp" for the Canada Post Corporation that was part of their Wildlife Series. Mr. Carmichael has an established relationship with the Royal Canadian Mint, completing a variety of projects which include the 1987 "Loon" Dollar (both the circulating and numismatic coin, the 1988 "Blacksmith" silver dollar that commemorated the 250th anniversary of Saint-Maurice Ironworks, the 1990 "Lancaster" 20 Dollar Aviation Coin, and the 1998 "Insulin" 100 Dollar Gold Coin commemorating the 75th anniversary of the Nobel Prize.

Alex Colville
Alex Colville was born in 1920 in Toronto, Ontario. He studied Fine Arts at Mount Allison University in Sackville, New Brunswick from 1938-1942.
Colville has exhibited extensively across Canada and internationally including the Tate Gallery in London, England; Beijing Exhibition Centre; Fung Ping Shan Museum in Hong Kong; Teien Museum in Tokyo; Canadian Pavillion at the 1966 Biennale in Venice, Italy; National Gallery of Canada in Ottawa; Kestner Gesellschaft in Hannover and Menschenbilder, Mathildenhohe in Darmstadt, Germany. In 1983 an international touring retrospective of his work was organized by the Art Gallery of Ontario.
Alex Colville's work is found in many collections including the Museum of Modern Art in New York, the Musée National D'Art Moderne in Paris, the National Gallery of Canada in Ottawa, the Centre National d'Art et de Culture Georges Pompidou in Paris, the Wallraf-Richartz Museum in Cologne and Kestner Gesellschaft in Hannover, Germany.
From: http://www.godardgallery.com/colville.htm

Harvey Chan
Harvey Chan was born in Hong Kong and came to Canada in 1976. He studied graphic design and illustration at The Ontario College of Art and Design. Since graduating in 1982, Mr. Chan has been working as an illustrator for major Canadian publications and advertising agencies. He also devotes himself to fine art, primarily of figurative work and has exhibited actively through the years.
Recent awards of Mr. Chan include: Gold medal from Studio Magazine's Annual Show (1996), Bronze from the 1996 CAPIC (Canadian Association of Photographers and Illustrators in Communications) national awards show, 1997 Ruth Schwartz Foundation Award for Canadian Children's Books. In the summer of 1997, the artist received The Amelia Frances Howard-Gibbon Medal from the Canadian Association of Children's Librarians at The National Library in Ottawa.

Donald H. Curley
Born in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Curley is a graduate of the Nova Scotia College of Art and Design. Curley’s expertise is painting wildlife. His attention to detail which is a result of his training at The Royal Academy of Art in London, England, has brought his wildlife work nation-wide recognition. Curley’s background consists of a variety of professions from actor to journalist to businessman before finally settling on becoming an artist. However, his diverse background gives Curley’s work a common perspective for all people to enjoy.
Curley has exhibited in numerous galleries around Canada including The Algonquin Museum and the John B. Aird Gallery in Toronto. Curley’s work is renowned in the corporate and public sector through his commissioned works for various clients such as The Royal Bank of Canada in Montreal, the Royal Canadian Mint, and The World Bank in Washington, DC. {April 17, 2001}

Suzanne Duranceau
Canadian artist Suzanne Duranceau, was born in Montreal, Quebec in 1952. After completing initial studies in French literature, Suzanne Duranceau studied painting and etching at the École des beaux-arts de Montréal. Later under the direction of Pierre Veilleux, she received advanced training in animation at the National Film Board of Canada. It was this training that led to her discovery of illustration and to pursuing it as a career for more than twenty years now.
As a freelance illustrator, Duranceau's work has appeared in magazines, on book covers, in institutional communications, in advertising, on posters and in children's books. In 1995, she received an Award of Excellence from Communication Arts Illustration Annual. Her work has garnered numerous awards and citations from such organizations as the International Packaging Association in New York, the Canadian Association of Photographers and Illustrators in Communication (CAPIC), the Houston Society of Illustrators, The NY Society of Illustrators, the Montreal Publicity Club, the Association des illustrateurs et illustratrices du Québec (AIIQ, the Quebec illustrators association), Studio Magazine Annual, and the Toronto Art Directors Club.
Duranceau has twice been a finalist for the Governor General's Award of Canada for children's book illustration. She has participated in many group exhibitions in Canada, the United States, and Europe. She co-founded the AIIQ (the Quebec illustrators association) and was its first president from 1983 to 1985. She also has served as National President of CAPIC (Canadian Association of Photographers and Illustrators in Communication) and was a member of the Governor General's Award Jury in 1987-88 and in 1992.
She created the artwork for a series of 8 stamps on Endangered Species for the United Nations philatelic division in New York. She also realised more than thirteen stamps for Canada Post and a recent Canada-France Joint Issue to celebrate the 400th anniversary of the first French settlement in Acadia at St.Croix Island.
Her clients have included: Bayard presse, Paris, The Biodome of Montreal; Canada Post, The Children Summit Foundation (Kindergipfel) Munich; les éditions Gallimard, The Getty Museum; HarperCollinsPublishers, Japan's Monthly Front (Tokyo), Macmillian India Limited(Madras), The National Foundation for Research in Zoological Gardens (Amsterdam), The Putnam Museum of History and Natural Science, The Royal Bank of Canada, Reader's Digest; The Royal Canadian Mint, Simon & Schuster, Scolastic Canada, The Smithsonian Institution; and The United Nations.

Dan Fell
Dan Fell is a Toronto artist who studied at the Ontario College of Art, followed by several years of design and illustration work such studios as Hardison & Associates, ADS, TDF and MacLaren Advertising. In 1988, he opened Studio Graphex, an art and design studio partnership servicing a client list that included the City of Toronto, Labatt's Spar Aerospace Readers' Digest and Bell Telephone. Working in digital and traditional media, his illustrations have won awards internationally as well as throughout Canada. His nature paintings have been featured in Ontario parks and exhibited in such prestigious locations as Deerhurst Lodge. In addition, his limited edition prints of animals and wildflowers can be found in private and public collections throughout Canada and the United States. {April 17, 2002}

Lionel LeMoine Fitzgerald
Lionel LeMoine FitzGerald was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba in 1890. His boyhood summers had been spent on his grandmother's farm in Snowflake, Manitoba and a deep love of the prairies remained with him all of his life. He was the only Western Canadian painter to become a member of the Group of Seven, invited into the group shortly before it disbanded in 1932. He subsequently became one of the founding members of its successor, the Canadian Group of Painters.

Michelle Grant
A graduate of the Alberta College of Art, Michelle is a versatile artist who excels in a variety of mediums, winning awards for her pencil, watercolor and acrylics alike. Her work has been recognized internationally for its excellence including several prestigious awards from the American Academy of Equine Art in Kentucky, USA. Her work is frequently sought after for corporate commissions and two of her pieces have been recently published in two new books, 'Drawing and Painting Horses' and 'Of Women and Horses'. Born in Calgary, Michelle was exposed to horses through the Calgary Stampede, Spruce Meadows and her own experiences riding in the Alberta foothills. Being a certified horse enthusiast, most of Michelle's work centers on her love for horses, however, her work also includes portraits of people and wildlife. At present, Michelle is enjoying success both as an art instructor and an artist. {July 03, 2002}

Francine Gravel
Montreal born artist Francine Gravel studied at the Montreal School of Fine Arts under Albert Dumouchel and Pierre Ayot and obtained a diploma in painting and printmaking in 1965. After receiving a teaching certificate in 1966 she taught in Quebec and Ontario and later at the Alberta College of Art in Calgary. She has also taught at Concordia University in Montreal.
Francine Gravel has over sixty group exhibitions to her credit, and her work has been exhibited in Belgium, Canada, England, France, Monaco and the United States. Over the last twenty years, she has had over forty-five solo exhibitions. She is the recipient of the Diplome d'honneur from the International Arts Guild, Les Palmes D'or des Beaux-Arts and a Special Mention from the Jury at Monte Carlo. {April 18, 2002}

Jean-Luc Grondin
Jean-Luc Grondin is Québec's most celebrated wildlife artist. He was born in Saint-Gédéon-de-Beauce, Québec on November 20, 1938. When he was young he loved to draw; especially birds and nature. Today he is considered one of Canada's best wildlife artists. His reputation is now international. From 1995-1996 Grondin joined fellow Canadian wildlife artists Robert Bateman, George McLean, Brent Townsend and Michael Dumas at an exposition of Canadian wildlife art in Tokyo and Osaka, Japan.
From 1953-1957 Grondin attended the Québec School of Fine Arts. In 1964 he was hired by the Zoological Gardens in Québec City as a graphic artist where he worked until 1974. Grondin illustrated some birding books and became more immersed in his love of painting birds. In 1976 Grondin sold his first of many painting, Barn Swallows, to the Canadian Nature Museum in Ottawa. He paintings were commisioned by corporations, Canada Post (1986), the Québec Wildlife Foundation (1988) and Wildlife Habitat Canada (1989).
Many of Grondin's painting have been reproduced as limited edition prints - and have found collectors from around the world.
From: http://www.artandnature.com/grondin.html

Caren Heine
Caren Heine began exhibiting her work as a professional artist at the age of 13. her passion for flowers and watercolour have made her one of the most sought after botanical artists in Canada. For the past 27 years, Ms. Heine has exhibited in touring shows throughout Canada, the United Sates and Europe.
Ms. Heine is the recipient of many awards, such as three F.C.A. Honourable Mention Awards, two F.C.A. Juror’s Choice Awards and Northwest watercolour Society awards. A member of the federation of Canadian Artists for 20 years, Caren Heine has been the Vice-President of the Victoria Chapter of the F.C.A. for the past three years. {September 14, 2000}

Steve Hepburn
Richmond, B.C. artist Steve Hepburn is a graduate of the Illustration and Design program at Capilano College. Steve has amassed an impressive clientele including Heritage Canada, the Royal Canadian Mint, and Via Rail. Steve Hepburn's illustration style draws on traditional artists such as John Singer Sargent, N.C. Wyeth and Tamara de Lempicka for inspiration. {June 18, 2002}

Mark Hobson
Mark Hobson is based in Tofino BC., on the outer west coast of Vancouver Island where he has painted for over twenty years. A diverse artist in both subject and media, he is equally comfortable in watercolour, oils, and acrylics. Mark is best known for his passionate portrayals of the B.C. coast, from pounding surf to sheltered cove; from rainforests to the underwater realm. The richness of the natural environment and its wildlife comes alive in his work. Professionally trained as a biologist, he taught high school science for nine years before painting as a career. Self-taught as an artist, his paintings are simultaneously accurate and sensitive depictions of the many moods of wilderness and rural landscapes.
Mark's work has won many awards in the U.S., Canada and Europe. He has participated in shows throughout North America and as far afield as Hong Kong and Singapore. The Royal Canadian Mint has twice invited him to design a set of platinum coins. The National Geographic Society has displayed his work in Washington D.C., Mark was selected as a member of the Society of Animal Artists in 1997, and as B.C.'s Wildlife Artist of the Year in 1996. His landscapes have placed in the top 100 of the US Art for Parks competition and three times Artist's Magazine annual competition has awarded his wildlife images high honours. In 2003 he won the Pacific Salmon Foundation's stamp award.
A strong advocate for preserving the wilderness he loves to paint, Mark has donated numerous paintings and much of his time to efforts to preserve natural environments.
Mark's floathouse studio is only accessible by boat, surrounded by the natural beauty of Clayoquot Sound.

Valentina Hotz-Entin
Ms. Hotz-Entin was born in Rivne, Ukraine and graduated in 1989 from Lviv University with a degree in fine arts and architecture. In 1990, she and her husband moved to South Africa where she had several jobs including interior design, painting murals and making stained glass windows.
In 1992, Valentina had her first solo exhibition in Johannesburg. The exhibit was well received and as a result she was invited to exhibit in Israel. Since then, Valentina has moved to Canada with her husband. Her work has been exhibited at the Contemporary Art Gallery in Toronto and the Montserrat Gallery in New York.
Valentina’s style is very personal. She says she relies purely on imagination to influence her work, which imparts a dream-like quality to all her paintings. {April 24, 2001}

Brian Hughes
Brian Hughes graduated of the Ontario College of art. He art directed magazines for Maclean Hunter for 6 years. He was responsible for the design of over 12 magazines. He controlled the "look" of each magazine to be appropriate to its content, and art directed the photos and illustrations. As a freelance illustrator for 12 years he is currently employed by the Toronto Star Newspaper as an info-graphic designer and illustrator.

Laura Jolicoeur
Laura Jolicoeur is an artist known for her line drawings in clay that are custom framed. Her work is collected internationally including numerous commissions in Canada and the USA. She has a permanent collection at the Art Gallery of Nova Scotia and the Nova Scotia Art Bank Collection. The Laura Jolicoeur Scholarship Fund was set up Hawthorn Elementary School in Nova Scotia, where one child per year can attend art classes of their choice. Laura attended both Georgian College in Barrie, Ontario and the Ontario College of Art in Toronto. {April 18, 2002}

Chris Jordison
Chris Jordison was born in Regina and attended Benson Public School and Martin Collegiate. Art instruction, while at Martin, was received through Mrs. Joyce Deutscher. After graduation, he moved to Toronto to learn Illustration and Advertising design. Four years were spent at various Advertising Agencies, before establishing a freelance Illustration business, which provided product and editorial Illustration to clients such as Sears, Eatons and John Deer.
In 1982 Chris moved the business back to Regina, a market that allowed him to exchange the narrow specialization demanded in the larger Toronto market for a broader base of artwork and services. The focus in the last few years has been to expand the Graphic Design portion of the business and develop electronic media skills for both design and illustration to compliment the traditional method skills. Clients include Ipsco, Saskatchewan Wheat Pool, Saskatchewan Wetlands Conservation Corporation, Regina Exhibition Park, City of Regina, Quest Communications, McKay Empire and various other businesses and organizations.

Peter Kiss
Peter Kiss was born in Vancouver. Armed with a degree in zoology and architecture, Kiss finally found his calling when he started experimenting with a variety of art forms (from sculpture to painting.) Having found a new career, his passion and ideas have been flowing into his work ever since.
Kiss’ permanent collection is exhibited at the Hollander York Gallery in Toronto, the Grove Gallery in Whistler, B.C., the Windsor Gallery in Miami and the Denise Roberge Gallery in Palm Desert. Peter Kiss has also had numerous solo shows since 1990 in The Keith Alexander Gallery and the Richmond Gallery. {April 24, 2001}

John Mardon
John Mardon was born in Welland, Ontario. After graduating from the Ontario College of Art & Design in 1962, he spent a year in London, England at the Central School of Arts and Crafts. Mardon prefers to work in pen and ink and watercolour. Working as a freelance illustrator, Mardon has been commissioned by Canada Post and the Royal Canadian Mint for stamp and coin designs. Mardon's designs for the Royal Canadian Mint include the Bobsleigh and Biathlon coins that were part of the Calgary Olympic series, the 1989 silver dollar commemorating the bicentennial of the discovery of the Mackenzie River, and the 1990 $100 gold coin celebrating the United Nations International Year of Literacy. Mardon's work brings him tremendous fulfilment and he claims he "will never retire."

Laurie McGaw
Over a career spanning more than two decades, portrait artist Laurie McGaw has become noted for the sense of timelessness and warmth she brings to her work. She has the ability to incorporate the strength and personality of the sitter along with her trademark guaranteed likeness. She is an award-winning illustrator. Among other honours, she received a Governor General's award nomination for children's book illustration. Many well-known figures have been the subjects of her published portraiture, including Wayne Gretzky, Oscar Peterson and the late Peter Gzowski.
Laurie McGaw is a resident of Southwestern Ontario. {April 18, 2002}

Scott McKowen
Scott McKowen received a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the University of Michigan School of Art in 1978. McKowen has combined his skills as a graphic designer and his longtime theater background to establish a career specializing in theater posters and graphics for the performing arts. Residing in Stratford, Ontario, Mr. McKowen is an active participant of the Stratford Festival designing their promotional material.
Mr. McKowen’s accomplishments include designing all major publications for the Shaw Festival since 1985. In addition, he has illustrated posters and brochures for a variety of performing arts groups consisting of the Juilliard String Quartet in New York, the Seattle Repertory Theatre, The Goodman Theatre in Chicago, The Canadian Stage Company in Toronto, and The National Ballet of Canada. As an illustrator, McKowen has worked for editorial and advertising clients including The New York Times, The Washington Post and Architectural Digest.
Scott McKowen was awarded a silver medal by the New York Society of Illustrators in March 1995 for his Twelfth Night poster for The Acting Company. His work has been recognized in numerous design publications and annuals including Upper and Lower Case magazine. Mr. McKowen has exhibited his work in cities such as New York, Washington DC, London, Stratford and Niagara-on-the-Lake. {January 11, 2001}

Peter Mossman
Toronto artist, Peter Mossman, apprenticed in major art studios and enjoyed a stint in the "Special Projects" division of A.V. Roe Canada before he and his wife, Ruth, opened their own agency/studio. Peter's elder brother, Jimmy, an RCAF veteran is responsible for his passion for Canadian military aviation.
His aircraft art has been published in many books, magazines, etc., and originals adorn the walls of museums, messes and homes as distant as Australia.

Thom Nelson
Thom Nelson was born in Calgary, Alberta in 1947, where he has lived most of his life, with the exception of some time spent in New Zealand. Thom graduated from the Alberta College of Art & Design in 1970, with a four-year diploma in Advertising Art, and attained a Bachelor of Fine Arts through the College in 2000. Throughout the 1970s, he was employed with a local printer and ad agency as an art director/graphic designer and eventually decided to become a freelance illustrator. Working as a freelance artist has allowed Thom the time to pursue fine art painting, one of his true passions.

José Osio
José Osio's childhood was filled with art, particularly ceramics and painting. At 13 years of age, he began his formal art training at Bellas Artes School in Valencia, Venezuela. His academic background is diverse and includes a college degree in dental technology- a skill-set that he feels contributed greatly to his development as an engraver at the Royal Canadian Mint.

Christie Paquet
Christie Paquet spent a number of years exploring the realm of fine arts before joining the Royal Canadian Mint engraving team in 2002. She has created portrait and figure sculptures for a number of corporate clients throughout Canada, sculpting her original works in clay before casting them in concrete, plaster or bronze. Ms. Paquet has also worked with watercolour, graphite and acrylic on canvas and considers landscape among her favourite subjects. Majoring in printmaking and sculpture, she received a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Mount Allison University and studied at Algonquin College. The 2003 50-cent Sterling Silver Golden Daffodil Coin was the first coin that Ms. Paquet has designed for the Royal Canadian Mint.

Bonnie Ross
In the early 1970's, Bonnie Ross, attended the Nova Scotia College of Art and Design for Foundation Studio and Freehand Drawing as a special student. She attained a graduating diploma in Commercial Art from CRVS in Truro, Nova Scotia in 1977 where she was also awarded with the Lieutenant Governor of Nova Scotia Silver Medal for outstanding achievement in the community and qualities of leadership.
Bonnie Ross studied painting under the late Ruth Wainwright, a renowned Halifax artist. In 1983, she attended "The Society of Illustrators Workshop" in Tarrytown, New York. When she is not painting she devotes her time towards different associations. Bonnie Ross is a founding member of the Nova Scotia illustrators Network. {April 18, 2002}

Stewart Sherwood
A native of Toronto, Ontario, Stewart Sherwood is a self-taught artist who has mastered such various and demanding media as oil paint, water color, gouache, marker and pastel. Mr. Sherwood's professional awards are as diverse as his artistic talents. He has earned a variety of high-profile awards in the field of limited-edition collectable art. He has created portraits of notable world leaders for Maclean's magazine; designs for Christmas cards; promotions for public television; magazine illustrations; a commissioned painting for the President of France; and commemorative gold coins the Royal Canadian Mint.
Stewart Sherwood is the only limited-edition plate artist to have earned the prestigious Plate of the Year Award four times between 1987 and 1991, and named Collectibles Canada magazine as Artist of the Year four times between 1991 and 1994.
From: http://www.rciwoven.com/products/instock/aritstbios/stewart_sherwood/sherwood.htm

Miyuki Tanobe
Miyuki was born in Japan. At the age of 11, she was accepted at the atelier of Itaru Tanabe, a master of oil painting in Japan. In addition to mastering oil painting, she studied the ancient Japanese painting technique taught years before by master Kabei Kabayashi.
In 1959, Miyuki attained her teaching certificate from the Tokyo University of Fine Arts. She then was accepted at the atelier of Seison Maida, great Master of Nihonga, and she became a member of INTEN (Autumn exhibition of the Nihonga Japanese painting.) From there, she went on to study at the École supérieure des beaux arts in Paris. In 1994, she became a member of the Royal Canadian Academy of Arts. The next year, Miyuki was elected Officer of the Quebec National Order.
Miyuki has worked in a variety of media from painting, to producing films and writing books. Miyuki has had numerous solo exhibitions around Canada. Her work is permanently exhibited in the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts, the Quebec Museum, and the Laurier Museum to name a few. {April 24, 2001}

Susan Taylor
The excellence of the work created by sculptor/engraver Susan Taylor, can be seen in the many cast bronze and silver medals created by this artist, and in her craftsmanship as a Senior Engraver for the Royal Canadian Mint. Her designs are exceptional in their ability to capture the spirit and honour of the award being presented. This excellence is also reflected in her designs for coinage whereby the spirit of the theme is expertly translated into miniature. This can be seen in her work for the World Maritime University, Royal Canadian Geographical Society and the Royal Canadian Mint. One of her cast silver medals was chosen to represent Canada at the prestigious Federation Internationale de Medaille held in Portugal in October 2004. Among the many honours awarded Ms. Taylor is the C.A. Brown Award at the Pen and Brush 52nd Annual Sculpture and Medallic Art Exhibition for her creation of a bronze medal featuring Tom Thomson.
Susan received her Honours Bachelor of Arts from McMaster University, certificate as a Mint Engraver from the Royal Canadian Mint where she is presently employed as a Senior Engraver. In addition Susan is the President of the Medallic Art Society of Canada and is the Vice-Delegate to the Federation Internationale de Medaille.

Anthony Testa
Born in Montreal, Anthony Testa of the Royal Canadian Mint has worked in the design industry for over 18 years, in areas of increasing responsibility. Anthony worked in a number of Montreal design firms before joining the Royal Canadian Mint in 1997. Within the Mint, Anthony develops thematic images and designs for a variety of applications, including marketing material, awards, communications materials and corporate gifts. Anthony has also designed a unique metal mural for the Canadian International School of Hong Kong, which remains a permanent fixture in the school’s front lobby, and the Viewers Choice Award for the Gemini Awards.

Tom Thompson
Tom Thomson (1877-1917) grew up in Leith near Owen Sound, Ontario. A self-taught artist, Thomson began his career in commercial design, but a trip to Algonquin Park in 1912 sparked a passion for Canada's north that would shape his life.
The unspoiled wilderness and natural beauty of Ontario's Algonquin Park inspired Tom Thomson when he painted The Jack Pine (1916-1917). Thomson's distinct approach to portraying the Canadian landscape greatly influenced his fellow artists who later formed the Group of Seven.

Brent Townsend
Brent Townsend was born in suburban Toronto in 1962. It was around the age of ten that he discovered his talent for drawing and by the age of twelve his teachers were purchasing his work. This newfound income offered him the opportunity to purchase art supplies, with which he truly began to create the images of the world around him.
Brent started painting in acrylic, but changed to oils, as he feels that oil allows him the freedom to create his own textures. It offers the possibility of layering pigment and with this, he has the opportunity to capture the diversity of intricate detail that distinguishes his work from that of other artists.
Townsend's passion for the outdoors, combined with his talent, allows him to create works of art that aren't just portraits of wildlife, but scenes that relay the intimate connection the animals have with their habitat. He doesn't consider himself a wildlife artist to the extent of painting any and every animal. "I paint animals as part of the land. Their habitat is a significant part of the statement I am trying to make and the mood I want to evoke. I try to capture a feeling that expresses the fascination I have for the world around us".
Although he studied commercial art at the Wexford Collegiate Institute, Brent is essentially a self-taught painter, and was inspired by Carl Rungius, Andrew Wyeth, and other artists who, in his words "paint with their own independent spirit".
Now an established artist, Townsend is as passionate as ever about his work and has gained an international following. As he continues to strive for improvement with each new piece of art, his future promises to be as fascinating as the paintings he creates.
From: http://www.brenttownsend.ca/Biography.cfm

Andrew Valko
Born in Czechoslovakia, Andrew Valko came to Canada in the late 1960s. He received his diploma in Graphic Design and Applied Arts from the Red River Community College in Winnipeg and also had the opportunity to study printmaking at Moosehead Press and with Toshi Yishida in Tokyo, Japan. He has been the subject of many articles, reviews and exhibitions. Andrew is a recipient of numerous awards and commissions including the Royal Canada Academy of the Arts, Manitoba Arts Council, and Canada Post Corporation. His work appears in a wide range of public, corporate and private collections.{June 18, 2002}

Stan Witten
Alberta-born Stan Witten studied art and engraving under the direction of the Dutch artist John Vandenbrink, where his true passion for this discipline began to flourish. In 1990, Mr. Witten joined the Royal Canadian Mint and began the inhouse apprenticeship programme which he completed in 1994. Now a senior engraver, he has designed a number of Canadian coins including the 2001 $300 Harlequin Ducks Platinum Coin and the 2003 SML Coloured Maple Leaves Coin. Mr. Witten's sculpture and design work can also be seen on the general circulation coinage of Uganda.

J. Franklin Wright
A native of Cape Breton, Wright is strongly influenced by his environment. Wright has developed a mastery of the marine composition. His attention to detail and meticulous research in his artwork has brought him prestige and acclaim. Wright’s work has been shown extensively throughout Canada. His international exhibitions include institutions such as the Jacob Javitz Center in New York and the Royal Institute of Oil Painters in London, England. Wright is the only Canadian included in the influential marine volume, 20th Century British Marine Painting by Denys Brook-Hart.

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