Ted Harrison

Edward Hardy Harrison was an English-Canadian artist known for his beautiful paintings of the Yukon. He was born on August 28, 1926, and passed away on January 16, 2015. Harrison created many artworks that showed the natural beauty and unique landscapes of the Yukon region. His work brought attention to the area's stunning scenery and helped many people appreciate its importance. Harrison was also recognized for his achievements with honors such as CM and RCA, as well as an LL.D.

Early life and education

Ted Harrison was born in Wingate, County Durham, England, in 1926. He began painting at the West Hartlepool School of Art in England. Even though his studies were stopped because of the war, he finished and got a National Diploma in Design in 1949. He then earned a teaching certificate from the University of Durham and a B.Ed from the University of Alberta, which started a teaching career that lasted almost 30 years.

Career

Edward Hardy Harrison began living in Yukon, Canada, in 1968 and stayed there until 1993. Many of his paintings showed the beautiful colors and culture of the Yukon during that time.

From the 1970s, Harrison worked not just as an artist, but also as an illustrator and author. His work was so good that he was chosen for the International Children’s book Exhibition in Bologna, Italy. One of his famous illustrations was for the poem "The Cremation of Sam McGee" by Robert Service. He liked to use surprising colors in his artwork. In 1987, Harrison was honored as a Member of the Order of Canada for his work in Canadian culture. He also received special degrees, called honorary doctorates, from Athabasca University, the University of Victoria, and the University of Alberta. He was also made a member of the Royal Canadian Academy of Arts.

Personal life

Edward Harrison’s wife, Nicky, passed away from Alzheimer’s disease in 2000. After her passing, he worked to support Alzheimer foundations. Edward Harrison passed away peacefully in his sleep at the age of 88 on January 16, 2015.

Personal archive

In 2011, Harrison gave his personal collection of work to the Library at the University of Victoria.