Vancouver Artist Graham Watts — Original Canadian Oil Paintings

Originally from Guelph, Ontario, Graham Watts is a Canadian oil painter based in Vancouver, British Columbia. He has spent more than 25 years exploring the landscapes between Vancouver, Whistler and the Sea-to-Sky, experiences that continue to shape the places and subjects he paints.

Skiing, hiking and time spent in British Columbia’s wilderness provide much of that inspiration. His paintings range from expressive grizzly bears, wolves and eagles to Whistler mountain and ski scenes, British Columbia landscapes and atmospheric Vancouver streets reflected in rain.

Graham’s path to becoming a professional artist was not a traditional one. He earned a BA in Management Economics from the University of Guelph and later completed an Internet Marketing Certificate at the University of British Columbia. His career went on to span marketing, technology and entrepreneurship, including three years with The Coca-Cola Company, co-founding Vancouver-based Urban Poling Inc., and operating his own digital marketing business, Starburst Communications.

Throughout that career, art remained a constant. Self-taught in oil painting, Graham began painting more than 20 years ago with a small canvas and three tubes of paint. What started as exploration gradually developed into a professional art practice and a distinctive approach defined by vibrant colour, expressive movement, sculptural texture and dramatic light.

Today, Graham has 15 years of professional experience as an artist. A member of the Federation of Canadian Artists, he personally creates every original painting and works directly with collectors—from the first question about a painting through viewing, selection, commissioning and delivery.

His original paintings are now held in private collections throughout Canada, the United States and the United Kingdom, including Vancouver, Whistler, Toronto, Montreal, Calgary, New York City, Los Angeles, Austin, London and Glasgow.