written by Stevie Vallance

Born in Shropshire, England, in 1920, Vivien Kershaw was holding a paintbrush long before she held a a clerical position in the British Army, during World War 2. Viv recalled serving in The Canadian Air Forces (London), for 2 years, before being 'shipped to Canada', in 1944.

At the time Vivien was discharged from the Air Force, an officer recognized her natural talent as a 'self-taught artist' and sent her to Montreal's School of Fine Art and Design, where she studied under Dr. Arthur Lismer, who compared her work to the late Emily Carr's.

After graduating from the OCA (Ontario Canadian Art Gallery, 1950), Vivien Kershaw continued to capture the soul of many 'themes of our times', in a way that only she could do.

Over the next 50 years, Vivien painted  hundreds of stunning landscapes of Southampton, Algonquin Park, Milliken and Muskoka. Her Art reflects her extraordinary love of nature as well as a wonderful sense of humor.

While permanently preserving northern Ontario's natural scenery (where today there may be strip malls), she also immortalized 'hundreds of cats', who were her beloved pets. She did this through her Art.

Vivien was modest by nature and it never ocurred to her to 'show' her work. She painted because she loved to and that was that. Vivien Kershaw represents an era of artists who pioneered their lives authentically; painting for no other reason than it brought them joy.

Vivien passed away a year ago - only one week prior to her first gallery showing at The Alexandra Luke Gallery, Muskoka. This August 1 to September 1, 2008, a select group of Vivien's paintings of the Lake Huron area will be displayed in the Southampton Art Gallery (circa 1960 - 2007). 'More than any other gallery, in the world' (said Viv), it was her wish to have her Art displayed in the Southampton Art Gallery.   She dearly loved the town of Southampton and I believe her spirit will continue living there forever.

Click here to see photos of Viv

For more info contact: info@vivienkershaw.com

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