A self-taught artist, Anne-Marie Harvey spent her first 23 years as an artist exploring and painting in the wilds of northern British Columbia and the Yukon. She and her artist husband raised their three children in a land accessible only by bush plane. The dynamic landscape and transformational quality of light in the far north were her teachers.
Anne-Marie had been painting only a year when artist and mentor, Ruth Harvey, took her under her wing. With Ruth's support and knowledge of exhibiting art, Anne-Marie soon gained confidence that she could support herself with her paintings.
Over the years Anne-Marie gained recognition and financial success in the north. The Commonwealth Games Committee used her paintings as a benchmark for selecting art for the Yukon exhibit in the 1978 Games in Edmonton. Several of her northern oils are part of the permanent collection of the territorial government in Whitehorse.
In 1984, Anne-Marie left her beloved northern mountains for a new life on the west coast. Here she was introduced to watercolours, a whimsical medium which suited her soul. It offered her a suitable challenge, even more elusive than northern light! It took Anne-Marie several years to nurture a working relationship with this defiant and delightful medium. Out of mastery came success and security, along with dozens of shows,both solo and group. Watercolour led to acrylics which finally led to mixed media which seems to keep Anne-Marie entertained for the time being.
Anne-Marie's ability to paint people as well as landscapes won her success in the competition for cover artist and illustrator for the Advocate, the law magazine for B.C. and the Yukon. Each issue features a notable and interesting person in the field of law. With one short interview, Anne-Marie must create for the cover a light-hearted portrait which accurately captures the spirit of this person. This work earned for her a spot as finalist for best illustrator at the Western Magazine Awards in 2003.
Anne-Marie spends her working week in her funky bright studio on Granville Island.She teaches part time for the FCA but mostly she paints, working steadily towards expressing her great passion for simplicity and colour. Anne-MarieÕs current dream in progress is writing and illustrating childrens books.
Winter finds Anne-Marie in a floating home at Granville which she shares with her husband Chris and their springer spaniel, Picasso. In the summer they all run away in their boat, 'Northern Freedom' to explore the west coast or just hang out at their place on Savary Island.