Ted Harrison

Edward Hardy "Ted" Harrison, CM (August 28, 1926 – January 16, 2015) was an English-Canadian artist who was highly notable for his paintings of the Yukon.

Ted Harrison was born in Wingate, County Durham, England, in 1926.

Harrison 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.

Then, from 1967, he resided in Yukon, Canada, a location with prominence in many of his works. He stayed there until 1993. His work from this period focused on the colours and culture of the Yukon.

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". He often assigned unfamiliar tone 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). He was made a member of the Royal Canadian Academy of Arts

Harrison's wife, Nicky, died from Alzheimer's disease in 2000. Harrison subsequently helped raise money for Alzheimer foundations. Harrison died in his sleep at the age of 88 on January 16, 2015.

In 2011, Harrison donated his personal archive to the University of Victoria's Library