Ted Harrison

{{Other uses|Edward Harrison (disambiguation){{!}}Edward Harrison}}

{{Infobox artist

| name = Ted Harrison

| image =

| imagesize =

| caption =

| birth_name = Edward Hardy Harrison

| birth_date = {{birth date|mf=y|1926|08|28}}

| birth_place = Wingate, County Durham, England

| death_date = {{death date and age|2015|1|16|1926|8|28}}

| death_place = Victoria, British Columbia, Canada

| alma_mater = West Hartlepool School of Art
University of Durham

University of Alberta

| nationality = British
Canadian

| field = Painter

| training =

| movement =

| works =

| patrons =

| awards =

| honorific_suffix = CM, RCA

}}

Edward Hardy Harrison {{Post-nominals|country=CAN|CM|RCA|size=100%}} LL.D. (August 28, 1926 – January 16, 2015) was an English-Canadian artist who created many paintings of the Yukon.

{{cite news |title=The Northern Echo: JOHN NORTH – Anything Yukon do |first=Mike |last=Amos |publisher=The Northern Echo |date=August 31, 2006 |access-date=2007-03-02 |url=http://docs.newsbank.com/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info:sid/iw.newsbank.com:AWNB:MNEB&rft_val_format=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:ctx&rft_dat=113E93579220F5F0&svc_dat=InfoWeb:aggregated4&req_dat=0D0CB57AB53DF815

}}

Early life and education

Ted Harrison was born in Wingate, County Durham, England, in 1926.{{cite news| url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/north/yukon-painter-ted-harrison-celebrated-in-biography-1.795277 | work=CBC News | title=Yukon painter Ted Harrison celebrated in biography | date=August 25, 2009}}

{{cite web |title=Ted Harrison Gallery Serigraphs – biography |url=http://www.tedharrisongallery.com/bio.htm |access-date=2007-03-02}}

He started to paint at the West Hartlepool School of Art in England. Although interrupted by war, Harrison went on to complete his studies, being awarded a National Diploma in Design from the College in 1949. His subsequent earning of a teaching certificate from the University of Durham and a B.Ed from the University of Alberta, led to a teaching career that lasted almost three decades.

{{cite news |title=Ted Harrison talks politics and religion |publisher=Victoria News |first=Patrick |last=Blennerhassett |date=February 10, 2006 |access-date=2007-03-02 |url=http://docs.newsbank.com/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info:sid/iw.newsbank.com:AWNB:ZTEW&rft_val_format=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:ctx&rft_dat=10FB4F509D456C68&svc_dat=InfoWeb:aggregated4&req_dat=0D0CB57AB53DF815

}}

Career

Beginning in 1968, Harrison resided in Yukon, Canada, a location with prominence in many of his works.{{cite news| first=Janice |last=Kennedy |title=Artist celebrates Canada's birthday |publisher=The Record |date=June 13, 1992 |access-date=2007-03-02 |url=http://docs.newsbank.com/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info:sid/iw.newsbank.com:AWNB:OKRB&rft_val_format=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:ctx&rft_dat=10B4F3F2C459D888&svc_dat=InfoWeb:aggregated4&req_dat=0D0CB57AB53DF815

}} He stayed there until 1993. His work from this period focused on the colours and culture of the Yukon.

{{cite news| title=Unique Colours of Music show presents |first=Lucy |last=Purdy |publisher=The Barrie Advance |date=September 19, 2004 |access-date=2007-03-02 |url=http://docs.newsbank.com/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info:sid/iw.newsbank.com:AWNB:ZTAL&rft_val_format=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:ctx&rft_dat=114706105FC46E58&svc_dat=InfoWeb:aggregated4&req_dat=0D0CB57AB53DF815 }}

He worked, from the 1970s and thus in his post-academic capacity, not only as an artist but also as an illustrator and author. His work in the field earned him a national first: selection for the International Children’s book Exhibition in Bologna, Italy. One of his illustrations is of the Robert Service poem "The Cremation of Sam McGee".{{cite news| title=Sam McGee and a Gambling Grandma |first=Sid |last=Adilman |publisher=The Toronto Star |date=October 19, 1986 |access-date=2007-03-02 |url=http://docs.newsbank.com/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info:sid/iw.newsbank.com:AWNB:TRSB&rft_val_format=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:ctx&rft_dat=10B99AD864A608C8&svc_dat=InfoWeb:aggregated4&req_dat=0D0CB57AB53DF815 }} He often tried

unexpected colours to depicted features.

In 1987, Harrison was made a Member of the Order of Canada for his contributions to Canadian culture. He also held honorary doctorates from Athabasca University (1991), the University of Victoria (1998) and the University of Alberta (2005).

{{cite news |title=Ted Harrison to receive honorary degree |first=Sarah |last=Boon |publisher=University of Alberta |date=April 20, 2005 |access-date=2007-03-02 |url=http://www.uofaweb.ualberta.ca/education/news.cfm?story=35296 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050507062107/http://www.uofaweb.ualberta.ca/education/news.cfm?story=35296 |archive-date=May 7, 2005 |df=mdy-all }}

He was made a member of the Royal Canadian Academy of Arts{{cite web|title=Members since 1880|url=http://www.rca-arc.ca/en/about_members/since1880.asp|publisher=Royal Canadian Academy of Arts|access-date=11 September 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110526215339/http://www.rca-arc.ca/en/about_members/since1880.asp|archive-date=May 26, 2011|df=mdy-all}}

Personal life

Harrison's wife, Nicky, died from Alzheimer's disease in 2000. Harrison subsequently helped raise money for Alzheimer foundations.

{{cite news| title=An Alzheimer spouse travels a lonely road – Caring for a stricken partner exacts an enormous toll |first=Sean |last=McNeely |publisher=The Toronto Star |date=March 18, 2000 |access-date=2007-03-02 |url=http://docs.newsbank.com/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info:sid/iw.newsbank.com:AWNB:TRSB&rft_val_format=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:ctx&rft_dat=10BB883B19371FB8&svc_dat=InfoWeb:aggregated4&req_dat=0D0CB57AB53DF815

}} Harrison died in his sleep at the age of 88 on January 16, 2015.{{cite web| url = http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/ted-harrison-canadian-painter-dead-at-88-1.2913170| title = Ted Harrison, Canadian painter, dead at 88 {{!}} CBC News}}

Personal archive

In 2011, Harrison donated his personal archive to the University of Victoria's Library.{{cite web|title=Decorated artist donates personal items to UVic|url=http://www.oakbaynews.com/news/130660458.html|website=www.oakbaynews.com |publisher=Oak Bay News|access-date=16 January 2015}}