Biography

Marianne was born in England but spent much of her childhood in Malaysia. The stunning scenery and abundance of exotic animals and plants heightened her love of nature and keen interest in drawing and painting. Her artwork was selling in local galleries and department stores while she was still a teenager. Marianne settled in Canada in 1980 and lives in the beautiful countryside near Toronto, Ontario.

As a full time artist and a sought after art instructor Marianne travels extensively. She is never without her sketchbook and camera, always looking for new subject matter for her stunning paintings of flowers, landscapes and wildlife. Marianne also enjoys taking on commissions of subject matter that she may not otherwise paint. Some of these have been for publishing purposes.

Marianne’s art education in England has been furthered by studies at The Haliburton School of the Arts and has taken courses and workshops with many respected artists.

Marianne’s work has been exhibited in many juried exhibitions in which she has received numerous awards. The most recent are two Best in Show awards, Best Watercolour in Show, The Franklin Carmichael Award, The Marianne Crone Award, 2nd prize in the COAA Virtual Juried Show, Juror’s Choice and People’s Choice awards.

Her work can be found in private and corporate collections in Canada, U.S., England, Australia and Malaysia.

Artist’s statement

For me painting is a celebration of the endless beauty to be found in the natural world and an expression of my concern for its preservation. My hope is that my work will inspire in the viewer an appreciation of nature’s gifts and contribute to a greater collective environmental consciousness so that we may tread lightly on this earth of ours.

The translucency and unpredictability of watercolours and the rich colours of acrylics both afford exciting ways to express the fragility of a flower, the ethereal nature of a landscape or the drama of a stormy sky. With delicate washes or deep, rich colour they lend themselves to the portrayal of the diverse moods of nature and my emotional response to the wonders around us.