Doug Swinton

Doug Swinton has the enviable reputation of being one of Canada’s premier outdoor painters.  Born and raised in Calgary, Alberta, Doug depicts the foothills and mountains of the Canadian Rockies with powerful movement, light, and bold colour.

Doug’s knowledge of art and his willingness to share this knowledge with his art students has earned him a reputation as an outstanding artist and instructor.  His classes include topics such as color theory, composition, life drawing, and outdoor, or “plein air” painting.

Since he grew up watching his mother paint, art has always been an important part of Doug’s life.  However, he says, “I never really intended to make art a career…it just keeps happening.”   There seems to be no doubt, that with his love of painting outdoors, the close proximity of the prairies, foothills and mountains of Alberta make his home province, perfect for this talented man.

Doug Swinton’s work can be found in private and corporate collections in Canada and the United States, as well as Europe.  He was one of twenty-three artists invited to exhibit at the prestigious “Hockaday Museum of Art” in Kalispell, Montana in the show, “A Timeless Legacy: Peace Park 2018”.  His exhibition piece, “High Waterton Range” was purchased for the Hockaday’s permanent collection.

“How do you describe my art? That’s like trying to hit a moving target. Just when I think its going one direction ever elusive leopard slips away and changes its spots. Slathering thick viscid paint on a freshly unwrapped canvas is sensual and venereal.

“For me it’s always been more about the doing than the end product. It’s like being at a live concert. The energy that comes from the doing is a highly powerful thing. I also get board very easy so I tend to flit from subject to subject. As J R Tolkien said, “not all that wander are lost”. No matter what the subject, it’s always the same, the most amount of information with the least amount of brushstrokes.”   ~ Doug