| Ted Harrison | |
|---|---|
| Born | August 28, 1926 Wingate, County Durham, England[1] |
| Nationality | Canadian |
| Field | Painting |
Edward Hardy "Ted" Harrison, CM (born August 28, 1926[1]) is a Canadian artist notable for his paintings of the Yukon.[2]
Ted Harrison was born in Wingate, County Durham, England[3] and currently lives in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada.[2]
Harrison started to paint at the West Hartlepool School of Art in England. Although interrupted by war, Harrison went on to complete his studies, being awarded a National Diploma in Design from the College in 1949. His subsequent earning of a teaching certificate from the University of Durham led to a teaching career that lasted almost three decades.[4][5]
Then, from 1967, he resided in Yukon, Canada, a location with prominence in many of his works.[6] He stayed there until 1993. His work from this period focused on the colours and culture of the Yukon.[7]
He has worked, since the 1970s and thus in his post-academic capacity, not only as an artist but also as an illustrator and author. His work in the field earned him a national first: selection for the International Children’s Book Exhibition in Bologna, Italy.[4] One of his illustration is of the Robert Service poem 'The Cremation of Sam McGee'.[8] He often assigns unfamiliar tone to depicted features.
In 1987 Harrison was made a Member of the Order of Canada for his contributions to Canadian culture. He also holds honorary doctorates from Athabasca University (1991), the University of Victoria (1998) and the University of Alberta (2005).[4]
Harrison's wife, Nicky, died from Alzheimer's disease in 2000.[2][9] Harrison has since helped raise money for Alzheimer foundations.[9]