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Elizabeth was born Elizabeth Louise Wheeler in Newfoundland while it was still Britain's oldest colony, which probably accounts for her love of all things British. Her young life was spent moving from place to place as an Air Force brat. She always liked to draw and produced her first oil painting at 13 when, after having seen some of her drawings, a close family friend gave her some old oil paints and a few brushes. Oil painting became her passion all through school. However, upon completion of high school, Elizabeth put her fine art on the back burner and chose a career in graphic arts. When she wasn't working at her job as a graphic artist for a local television station in St. John's, she was heavily involved in the local theatre scene, doing everything from singing and dancing on stage, to working back stage painting scenery and signs.

In November 1977 Elizabeth met her husband Scott when he came to work at the TV station and seven months later they were married. In 1987, when Scott took a position with the CTV network in Toronto, they moved to Newmarket and within a few months Elizabeth got a job at the Era Banner newspaper in the composing department. A new start and a new town meant making new friends and learning new things, like... stained glass, ceramics, decorative painting and porcelain doll making. It was still in the back of Elizabeth's mind to get back to her painting. For years she had wanted to try her hand at waterolour, so in January 1994, she signed up for classes with Martin Pryce at the recently opened Newmarket School of Fine Art. However, she didn't want to completely abandon her oil painting, so when she retired from the Era Banner in August 1995, she signed up for Martin's oil painting class and now enjoys working in both media.

Since 1996 Elizabeth has participated in many juried and non-juried shows, including:

Art Aurora juried show (winning Honourable Mention in 2004)

The Society of York Region Artists fall shows (First Place and Honourable Mention in 2001 and Honourable Mention in 2003)

The Newmarket Heritage Art Competition (winning Honourable Mention in 2002 and 2003)

The McMickael Volunteer Committee Fall Art Show in 2002 and 2004

The Pastel Arists of Canada juried show in 2002

The Central Ontario Art Association juried show in 2003

Her works have been exhibited at the Trigg Gallery in Newmarket, The Link Gallery at Southlake Regional Health Centre, Art of the Matter in Aurora, the KOR Gallery in Kitchener, the Willow Gallery in Toronto, at the Markham Theatre for the Performing Arts, and at the Skylight Gallery in the Aurora Town Hall.

A love of travel and photography provides her with a never-ending supply of varied subject matter to paint in the realist style she favours. Her paintings hang in private collections as far away as England and Australia, and she has had paintings purchased by the Town of Aurora, Aurora Hydro, and the York Region Administrative Offices.

Keeping in mind that you can always learn something new, Elizabeth has attended various workshops with such artists as Brigitte Schreyer, Mary Nunn, Bonnie Steinbergm Ken MacFarlane and John Pryce. She has also taken silk painting workshops with Donnah Cameron II and had a go at wheel pottery. In her "spare" time she likes reading, needlework as well as making dolls and sewing their clothes.

In addition to teaching oil, watercolour and silk painting classes at the Newmarket School of Fine Art and the Seniors' Meeting Place in Newmarket, Elizabeth has studied with Russian artist Sergey Malina to improve her pastel and portrait skills. Now working in oil, acrylic, watercolour, pastel and silk she has been heard to say "So much to paint, and so little time."

I am insipired by the contrast of sunlight and shadows, no matter what the subject. The sunlight gives me a sense of well being and I try to capture that feeling in my paintings. I hope that when people look at my work they get the same sense of joy the images gave to me.

- Commissions Accepted -