About Dana Cowie
Artist Bio:
Dana Cowie is a professional visual artist who lives in the Kirkendall neighbourhood of Hamilton, Ontario. Dana spent much of her childhood in Hamilton before enrolling in the visual art program at Central Technical School in Toronto. She has also lived in Japan and in Victoria, British Columbia. Dana has worked as a visual stylist for Holt Renfrew and Sporting Life, but now focuses on painting. Her work has been exhibited in solo shows and group exhibitions at several galleries, including Canvas Gallery and Sleeping Giant Gallery in Toronto and Creative Works in Hamilton. She has sold work through the Art Gallery of Hamilton, the West Hamilton Artists Tour and from her private studio, and has clients in the United States, England, Germany and Sweden. She also accepts commissions. Her paintings have also been featured in the Hamilton Spectator, Hamilton Magazine, House & Garden magazine (UK), and The Mayfair Life Magazine (UK). Dana is also an art instructor, having taught both privately and at the Art Gallery of Hamilton.
Artist Statement:
I love to paint moments of joy, using bright colours and a loose, painterly style to convey energy and happiness. My style is probably best described as Contemporary Impressionism, using expressive brush strokes and layering to create movement and life. I move freely between different subjects, but am currently inspired by children and by scenes within my neighbourhood. I find children to be perfect muses, given their complete absorption and enjoyment in the moment. Although I live in the middle of a busy city, my work evokes a more slow-paced, bucolic life, including images of flower sellers, a child picking apples, and a family by the lake. I am daily inspired on my walks through the community and in my conversations with neighbours and other artists.
As well as painting the world around me, I also accept commissions and love to help clients realize their dreams into art. Popular commissions include favorite holiday landscapes, portraits, animals and beloved homes.
CV/SELECTED EXHIBITIONS & PRESS
July 11 – Aug. 10, 2018 Square Foot Show, Westland Gallery, London, Ontario
June 8, 2018 – 8 Painters, You Me Gallery, Hamilton, Ontario
May 12 & 13, 10 – 5pm, 2018 West Hamilton Artist’s Tour http://www.
March 28 – April 1, 2018, One of a Kind Spring Show, Toronto, Booth D38
March, 2018 Dundas Public Library
Feb – April 2018, Featured Artist in House & Garden Magazine, UK
Feb – April 2018, Featured Artist in Mayfair Life Magazine, UK
January 11 2018, Article by Kathy Renwald in the Hamilton Spectator
October 2017, solo show, Creative Works, Westdale, Hamilton
September – November 2017, 541 Barton
September 2017, Turner Park Gallery
October & November 2016, Art Locke Exhibit, Locke Street Library
May 7 & 8, 2016 WHAT West Hamilton Artists Tour
October & November 2016, Art Locke Exhibit, Locke Street Library
May 7 & 8, 2016 WHAT West Hamilton Artists Tour
June 2013 – YWAM International Arts Gathering http://www.ywamurbankeylondon.com/arts-gathering/
2013 – present – focus on selling art through website and venues such at AGH Art Rental and Sales
November 29 – December 2 2012, Art Gallery of Hamilton Fall Art Sale
May 2012 Interview – God is not boring website http://godisnotboring.ca/art_danainterview.html
Spring 2012 – Article in Hamilton Magazine’s Interiors issue http://www.hamiltonmagazine.com/sitepages/?aid=5499&cn=Interiors&an=Interiors+Spring+2012+
2011 – featured in Style at Home Magazine
2010 – Art Gallery of Hamilton Art Sale, November 4 – 7
2010 – 2015 Select paintings available at Canvas Gallery, Toronto
2009, October 16, Sleeping Giant Gallery, Toronto
2009, March 26, in support of The Canadian Friends of the Israel Museum, curated by Jamie Angell, Edward Day Gallery, 952 Queen Street West, Toronto
2009, February 6, 7-10pm Design Hope Toronto Art Auction, 186 Cowan Ave. Toronto
2009, January, Mural at Holt Renfrew, Bloor St. Location
2009, January 9 – February 8, you me gallery, Hamilton, ON
Write up in Hamilton Spectator:
2008, November 6 Interview on: http://torontoisawesome.com
2008, November 6 – November 9, Art Gallery of Hamilton Art Sale
2008, September 13 – 20, Know by Heart, art auction for Breast Cancer, Resistor Gallery, Toronto. Chapel Arts, Vancouver
2008, August 6 – September 21, Solo Exhibition, The Art Gallery of Hamilton, Art Rental and Sales, Hamilton
2008, May 10 – 22, Solo Exhibition, The Great Hall Gallery, Toronto
2008, May 1 – June 1, Gallery ArtPlus, Belleville
2008, April 1 – May 1, Gallery ArtPlus, Belleville
2008, March 6, illustration and write-up featured on British fashion website
2008, March 1 – April 1, Gallery ArtPlus, Belleville
2008, February 7, selected works and write-up featured on British fashion website
2008, February 1 – March 9, Gallery ArtPlus, Belleville
2007, December 7 – January 6, , Gallery ArtPlus, Belleville
2007, November 2 – 14, “You’ll Shoot Your Eye Out Kid!” at Whippersnapper Gallery, Toronto
2007, November 1 – 3, Downtown Belleville Art Walk
2007, November 2 – 30, Gallery ArtPlus, Belleville
2007, November 9, “Another Brick Wall”, art auction, SPIN Gallery, Toronto.
2007, September 6 -30, ArtPlus Gallery Group Show
2007, August 3 – 31, “From The Ground Up”, Artplus Gallery Featured Artist
RELEVANT WORK EXPERIENCE:
2009 – 2012 freelance wardrobe stylist for advertising and fashion editorial (print)
1998 – present Visual Artist
March 2008 – August 2008, Visual Stylist, Holt Renfrew
2004 – 2007 Sporting Life, Visual Display Artist, Decorative Painter, Mural Painter, Illustrator
2002 – Toro Magazine, Short Films, Assistant Fashion Stylist
2000 – present Commissioned Artist
1999 – 2003 Art Gallery of Hamilton / Power Plant Contemporary Art Gallery – Animateur
1999 – Art Gallery of Hamilton – Life Drawing Teacher
1994 – 2003 Private Art Instructor for children and adults