Michael Evans studied Fine Art at Kingston College of Art, UK, and the West of England College of Art, University of Bristol, where he obtained degrees in Fine Art and Education. He was awarded traveling scholarships for landscape painting from The Royal Academy of Art. London.
After a brief period of teaching in England, he immigrated to Canada where he served as an art instructor and Fine Arts Department Coordinator for SD # 45 West Vancouver. He was also a Schools Advisor to the Faculty of Art Education at UBC.
During this time, he also held several positions in various community arts organizations: President of West Vancouver Arts Council 83 - 85, and Advisor to The BC Pavilion Corporation at Expo 86'. He has also served on West Vancouver's Park and Recreation Commission.
More recently, he has served as a director for the Harmony Arts Festival, and a director for the Canadian Institute of Portrait Artists. He is also a founding member of the Famous Open Door Society in North Vancouver, a society that supports emerging artists.
In 2003, he retired and soon became involved in the struggle to save a sensitive eco-system above Horseshoe Bay from destruction by the expansion of the Sea to Sky Highway. He helped form and co- chair the Coalition to Save Eagleridge Bluffs in West Vancouver. In 2004, he photographed and published the 2005 " Back the Bluffs Calendar," that was filmed by Mary Bissell and featured in her documentary " Naked, " that has aired many times on CBC.
Deciding not to enter politics, but wanting to develop his career as a painter, photographer, and writer, he left the Coalition to travel to India. Since returning, he has exhibited photographs of his travels in India and is writing a novel based on his experiences. He now divides his time between painting, photography and consulting and mentoring with a wide variety of artists, former students, and arts professionals. He is currently preparing work for his first solo exhibition.
Exhibitions
Grad' Show Kingston College of Art ‘65
Young Contemporaries ‘66
Royal Society of Painter Etchers, London UK ‘65
Recent
2003 Basic Enquiry Studio Group Show.
2004 Harmony Arts Festival Studio Tour - Famous Open Door Society
2004 Leo's Café - Group Show, N. Vancouver
2005. "Circle of Life" International Children's Day, Arts Council of New Westminster's Gallery
2005 Studio2 Group Show Photography - Images of India.
2006 Harmony Arts Festival, Bad Dog Studios - Drawings
2007 Government of Canada Gallery , West Van Memorial library. Lighthouse Park Preservation Society. Group Show
Publications:
2004 " Confessions of a tree Hugger." Review section Vancouver Sun.
2005 " Back the Bluffs Calendar" Huber Press .
Works in progress:
"Paradiso." A novel set in present day Goa, India - a thriller with themes linked to recent threats of terrorism.
" Syllabary" A novel / film script - A love story that connects the history of the Cree people of Manitoba to Canada's present day involvement in the struggle in Afghanistan.
