Ted Harrison

Canadian [1926-2015]

Order of Canada, Royal Canadian Academy of Arts

One of Canada’s most beloved painters, Edward Hardy (Ted) Harrrison was born in the village of Wingate In County Durham, England. His talent was evident early in life, and he was encouraged by his parents (particularly his mother) and teachers to attend art school. In 1943, Harrison enrolled in Hartlepool College of Art, but his studies were interrupted by WWII, during which time he served in India, Egypt and East Africa as part of the Intelligence Unit of the British Army. Following his military service, Harrison completed his Diploma in Design (1950) and a subsequent Art Teacher Diploma at King’s College, University of Durham (1951). Harrison soon began what would be a 28 year career in teaching. 

Along with his wife and son, he travelled to Malaysia and New Zealand before arriving in Canada in 1967. He initially taught in the Northern Alberta town of Wabasca, before settling in the small town of Carcross, Yukon Territories in 1968.

In 1969, Ted Harrison held his first Canadian exhibition in the Whitehorse Library. His first major Canadian exhibition followed in 1970, at Robertson Galleries, in Ottawa. Harrison completed a BA at the University of Alberta in 1977, and retired from teaching in 1980 in order to pursue his art career full-time, moving to Victoria British Columbia in 1993.

Ted Harrison is known for his bold, colourful, and rhythmic paintings, depicting the landscape and everyday scenes of the Yukon. He has gained international recognition for his paintings, which can be found in many public and private collections, as well as for his children’s stories and illustrations. Ted Harrison received many honours during his career: 

He designed the visuals for the entrance to the Yukon Pavilion at Expo 86; designed a Canada Post Christmas stamp in 1996; received the Order of Canada in 1987 and the Order of British Columbia in 2008; was awarded an honourary doctorate from the University of Athabasca and from Malaspina College, a distinguished Alumni Award from the University of Alberta and an honorary doctorate in Fine Arts from the University of Victoria. The Art Gallery of Greater Victoria held a retrospective of the the artist’s work in 1996 and again in 2009: “Ted Harrison: Painting Paradise”.