About the Artist

I believe art can speak where words fall short.

As a lifelong resident of Vancouver Island, I am deeply rooted in the rhythms and spirit of the West Coast of Canada. My work as a realistic landscape painter is a reflection of my enduring connection to this place – its windswept shorelines, mist-laced forests and shifting moods of the sea. Through oil, I aim to capture the rugged, untamed beauty of an island that has shaped my life and now my paintings.

I hike, observe and photograph hundreds of moments of quiet power – the play of light on the Pacific Ocean, the curve of a shoreline, or the stillness of nature after a storm. Back in my studio, I use these photographs as a foundation, but it is memory, emotion and respect for this land that guides my brush. Each piece reflects time spent joyfully immersed in the outdoors and now which has been transferred onto canvas. With use of primarily square brushes, my concentration revolves around the importance of negative space and resolves as the focal point presents itself.

My motivation is simple yet urgent: to share the awe I feel for these wild spaces and to encourage their protection. At a time when natural environments are increasingly threatened, I believe that art can be a form of advocacy and a visual reminder of what is at stake and what we stand to lose.

Through my paintings I invite viewers to pause, reflect and reconnect with the raw beauty that still exists. Ultimately, I hope my art becomes a quiet call to protect what we cannot replace. If my paintings can awaken even a moment of reverence then I and they have done their job.


What began as a quiet love for painting has become Maureen Ness’s way of preserving the wild landscapes of Vancouver Island, one oil painting at a time.

Maureen is primarily a self - taught landscape painter based in Victoria, British Columbia. Raised on the island, her lifelong passion for art began at 8 years of age when her Grade 2 teacher saw budding artistic talent. Her passion for art however took a back seat to an extensive and successful career in Human Resources and the demands of the job with world travel ensued. 

Over the years  and when time permitted, Maureen took classes from well-known art teachers such as: Allan Kirk; Marney Ward; Bob Davies; and Johannes Vloothuis, her paintings were more hobby based than professional. But, her passion and obsession for art never left her mind.

It was eleven years that that itch could no longer be ignored and  Maureen transitioned from watercolour and acrylics to oil, drawn to its depth, luminosity and expressive potential. For the last eleven years, Maureen has devoted herself full time to her oil painting and has painted over 550 works of art since that time.  She has worked very well delivering many commissions for her clients in both Canada and the US.

In addition to her current studio practice, Maureen has been the General Manager of Artishow Victoria since 2017, a role that has deepened her ties to the local arts community. Under Maureen’s watchful eye, this program now benefits to over 80 artists. She has also been the Artist in Residence program herself for the past ten years in several large hotels including the Express Hotel in Victoria and continues to arrange and participate an annual show “Artistry With High Tea” to the hotel’s exclusive clientele. This involves mentoring and teaching artists how to display and promote their artwork. 
Maureen is a member of the Victoria Sketch Club now since 2016, founded by Emily Carr in 1904, and in addition to weekly participation in painting and sketching programs, has taken on the role of Show Director and Communications and has had solo and group shows with this organization.

Currently represented by Mattick’s Gallery since 2017, Maureen has had numerous group shows including a solo exhibition we many of her paintings have sold over the years.

Maureen’s work is held in private collections all over the world: in Canada, Europe, UK, the Middle East, Scandinavia, Australia/ New Zealand  and a host of other countries thanks to her extensive participation in her artist residencies and solo art exhibitions locally.She has also garnered numerous prizes with the most important prize being an Honourable Mention for the FASO Bold Brush International Painting Award.

Memberships and Associations
Leadership and Volunteer Activities
2015 to 2020 Coordinator for Remote Art Shows Victoria Arts Council
2018 Show Director and Executive Member – Victoria Sketch Club
2018 to date General Manager for Artishow Victoria – Artist in Residence Program Victoria – currently seven locations

Gallery
2017 to 2025 Matticks Gallery

2026 to date Gallery 35

Memberships

 2017 to date Victoria Sketch Club
2017 to 2019 The Coast Collective Group
2016 to date Federation of Canadian Artists
2014 to 2019 Victoria Arts Council
2020 to date Art in Canada

List of Art Events

2026

Feb 1st to Feb 28th - Coast Victoria Hotel & Marina - Solo Art Show

Mar 16th to Mar 19th - Victoria Sketch Club 117th Annual Art Show - Group Show

2025
Mar 1st to Mar 31st - The Parkside Hotel - Solo Art Show
Mar 18th to Mar 23rd - Victoria Sketch Club 116th Annual Art Show - Group Show
Jun 1st to Jul 31st - The Union Club of British Columbia - Artist in Residence
Sep 1st to Sep 30th - Delta Hotels Victoria Ocean Pointe Resort - Artist in Residence
Dec 1st to Dec 31st - The Parkside Hotel - Solo Art Show

2024
Jun 2, 16 & Aug 18 - Church & State Wines - Special event 'Pairing Art and Wine'
July 1st to July 31st - Fairmont Empress Hotel - Artist in Residence
Sep 1st to Oct 31st - Delta Hotels Victoria Ocean Pointe Resort - Artist in Residence
 
2023
Jan 1st to Jan 31st - The Parkside Hotel - Solo Art Show
Mar 21st to Mar 26th - Victoria Sketch Club 114th Annual Art Show - Group Show
Apr 1st to May 31st - The Union Club of British Columbia - Artist in Residence
Jul 1 to Jul 31st - The Coast Hotel and Marina - Artist in Residence
Aug 1st to Aug 30th - Delta Hotels Victoria Ocean Pointe Resort - Artist in Residence
 
2022
Nov 15th to date -  Government House of British Columbia - Group Show
Dec 1st 2021 to Jan 31st - The Coast Hotel and Marina - Artist in Residence
Mar 22nd to Mar 28th - Victoria Sketch Club 113th Annual Art Show - Group Art Show
Apr 1st to Apr 30th - Inn At Laurel Point - Solo Art Show
May 1st to May 31st - Delta Hotels Victoria Ocean Pointe Resort - Artist in Residence
Jun 29th to Jul 29th - Hotel Grande Pacific - Artist in Residence
Aug 19th to Sep 29th - Goward House - Solo Art Show
 
2021
Dec 1st to Dec 31st The Coast Hotel – Artist in Residence
Nov 1st to Nov 30th Pacific Arts Market Gallery – Vancouver – Part of Gallery Show
Sept. 1st to Oct 30th Westcoast Beach Locations – Ministry of Health – Main Lobby – Solo Art Show
Aug 1st to Aug 30th Marriot Delta Ocean Point – Solo Art Show – Mezzanine
July - TD AGGV Victoria Art Gallery brochure featured – online art show
May 30th to July 30th` Westcoast Vancouver Island Locations – Solo Art Show – Union Club – MacGregor Rm
Mar 5th to Mar 21st Pathways – Imagine Artworks Group Art Show - St. Mattias – The Chapel Gallery
Jan 1st to Apr 30th Gallery 5 – Ministry of Health

2020
Jan. – ongoing Matticks Gallery representation
Nov 1st to Mar 31/21 Group Art show “The Healing Power of Art” – Ministry of Health
Nov 18th to Dec 31st Matticks Gallery Christmas Charity – Group Show
June 1st to Oct 31st Group Art Show “The Power of Art” Gallery 5 – Ministry of Health
June 1st to July 31st Solo Art Show – Union Club – Renaissance Room by invitation
Apr 1st to May 31st Solo Art Show and Artist in Residence – Union Club – Juried
Jan 2nd to Jan 31st Royal Jubilee Hospital – Mosaic Group Art Show
Jan 3rd to Feb 27th Hotel Grand Pacific Café – Giclee Solo Art Show

2019
Jan. – Dec 2019 Matticks Gallery representation
Nov 18 – Dec 31 Matticks Gallery Christmas Charity – Group Show
Oct 1st to Oct 31st Solo Art Show – Central Downtown Library
Sept 1st to Sept 30th Artist in Residence – Victoria Coast Hotel and Marina
Aug 1st to Aug 31st Artist in Residence - Delta Marriott Ocean Point - Juried
May 27th to Jun 24 Matticks Gallery – Featured Artist Art Show opening June 1st
Apr 26 to May 23rd Saanich Municipal Hall – Glass Room Main Floor – Solo Exhibit –– Oil Paintings
Mar 19th to Mar 25 Glenlyon Auditorium – Victoria Sketch Club – Annual Group Show – Juried (Show Director)
Mar 25 – Apr 15 CACGV Look Group Artist Show – Group Show - The Bay Centre –
Mar 2 – Mar 12th CACGV International Women’s Day Exhibition lightly juried - location The Bay Centre
Feb 8th to Feb 22nd CACGV Cedar Hill Café Gallery – Solo Show
Jan 20th to Apr 4th CACGV (now VAC) Saanich Public Library – Solo Show
Jan 25th to Mar 28 Goward House – Mosaic Group Art Show – 6 artists – (Organizer)

2018
Dec 12th Cedar Hill Art Centre, Main Gallery Group Show, Open Studio – Group Show
Nov Gifts and Wishes Group Show – Coast Collective - Juried
Oct Artist in Residence – Victoria Coast Hotel and Marina
April Bloom Group Show – Coast Collective
Jan to Dec Various paintings in gift shop/gallery – Coast Collective - Juried
Jan to Dec Various paintings in gallery – Matticks Gallery
August Collaborations Group Show – with Nancy Fraser – Coast Collective Gallery - Juried
July Artist in Residence - Delta Marriott Ocean Point - Juried
June Artist in Residence – Double Tree Hilton - Juried
May Scattered Artists Studio Tour 2018 – 1481 Finlayson Place Victoria – Paintings, art cards, prints - Group Show
Mar – Apr Victoria Arts Council Look Group Artist Show – Group Show - The Bay Centre –
Mar. 20 – Mar 25 Glenlyon Auditorium – Victoria Sketch Club – Annual Group Show - Juried
Mar – Mar VAC International Women’s Day Exhibition lightly juried - location The Bay Centre
March 14 – Apr.1 Bloom 10 – Main Gallery - Coast Collective Group Show - Juried
Feb 14 – Feb 25 Transitions – Juried – Main Gallery - Coast Collective Group Show
Jan. 31 – Feb 11 Art From the Attic – Main Gallery - Coast Collective Group Show - Juried
Jan. 25 – Mar. 31 Goward House – Cedar Hill Artists – Mosaic Group Show - Juried
Jan. 12 – Apr. 16 Victoria International Airport – Solo Show - Juried

2017 
Dec 7 to Jan 2nd Coast Collective - Westridge Gallery – Westshore - Group Show
Dec 12th Cedar Hill Art Centre, Main Gallery Group Show, Open Studio – Group Show
Nov 18 – Dec 18 CACGV - Little Gems Holiday Art Show – Group Show
Sept 1 – Oct 31 Nelles Block Naden (west coast watercolours) Solo Show
Sept 1st – 30th Artist in Residence - location Delta Marriott Ocean Point - Juried
July & Aug Goward House – Solo Art Show 40 to 60 paintings
May 20 to May 21st Scattered Artists Studio Tour 2017 – 1481 Finlayson Place Victoria – Paintings, art cards, prints - Group Show
Apr 26 to May 23rd Saanich Municipal Hall – Glass Room Main Floor – Solo Exhibit –– Oil Paintings
Apr 19 – May 3rd Scattered Artists Studio Pre-Tour – Pre-Show – Main Gallery Cedar Hill Art Centre paintings, art cards, prints – Group Show – 1481 Finlayson Place
Mar 25 – Apr 15 CACGV Look Group Artist Show – Group Show - The Bay Centre –
Mar 2 – Mar 12th CACGV International Women’s Day Exhibition lightly juried - location The Bay Centre
Feb 8th to Feb 22nd CACGV Cedar Hill Café Gallery – Solo Show
Jan 20th to Apr 4th CACGV Saanich Public Library – Solo Show
Dec 1 2016 to Jan 31 Nelles Block Naden (west coast watercolours) Solo Show