Belfast-born, raised on the we[s]t coast of Canada, denise is an emerging illustrator and artivist with a home-based studio practice in kalpilin on the shíshálh swiya | Pender Harbour on the Sunshine Coast.

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As an artist, I like to play in the negative space: with strong statements, exploring traditional methods and mediums. I enjoy getting my hands dirty with linocut printmaking, ink/graphite on paper, collage and community art builds. I also create botanical illustrations and protest art. Climate action and social justice are the undercurrents of my artivism.

I am a sea creature at heart on a second career path: a recovering scientist fascinated with the wise architecture of the natural world and it’s collision course with human hubris. My evolving practice is motivated by solastalgia, conservation and conversation. My content is my process, and as a settler/artist, I am a parallel work in progress.

Exhibitions + Events

2025 - LISTED | solo member exhibition, Gibsons Public Art Gallery: Joe’s Lounge (upcoming Sep 18-Oct 14) Gibsons BC

2025 - Members’ Tiny Exhibition, GPAG: Joe’s Lounge (Jun 26-Jul 20) Gibsons BC

2025 - PRESENT TENSE | Members’ Exhibition, GPAG (Jun 26-Jul 20) Gibsons BC

2025 - Friends of the Gallery | Sunshine Coast Arts Council Members Exhibition, Sunshine Coast Arts Centre (Jan 10-Feb 8) Sechelt BC

2024 - ART CRAWL: Venue #125, SCAC (Oct 18-20) Sechelt BC

2024 - Group Exhibition with Teresa Selbee-Baker and Allie Bartlett: SCAC Back Gallery (Oct 11-Nov 9) Sechelt BC

2024 - Luck of the Draw: GPAG Fundraiser (Jul 25) Gibsons BC

2024 - PRESENT TENSE | Members’ Exhibition, GPAG (Jun27-Jul 28) Gibsons BC

2023 - PRESENT TENSE | Members’ Exhibition, GPAG (Nov 30-Dec 23) Gibsons BC

Education

2023 - Emily Carr University of Art & Design: Illustration Certificate

1999 - University of Toronto: Master of Forest Conservation (International Forestry)

1996 - University of British Columbia: Bachelor of Science (Natural Resources Conservation)

Skills Development

Sun Printing w/ Margie Davidson (Fibre Works Studio & Gallery 2022) Madeira Park BC

Botanical Illustration w/ Katherine Dickinson (Van Dusen Botanical Gardens 2016-2018) Vancouver BC

Letterpress w/ Kyle Schlesinger (Harry Smith Print Shop: Naropa University 2015) Boulder CO

Sign Painting w/ John Lennig (got craft! 2015) Vancouver BC

Card Print (BLIM 2015) Vancouver BC

Relief Prints (Clark Drive Gallery 2015) Vancouver BC

Bibliography

2017  Mr. T, "About the Cover Artist...". Lights Go Out, Newbury UK, Issue 43, February 2017. Cover, 22-23.

2015  Allen, Denise. POETRAIT. 2015. In Ella Longer and Tyler Lyman, ed. HELIX SYNTAX: SWP Lit Mag, 27. Boulder CO: The Naropa Press, 2015.