Exhibit: Animal Portraits

This exhibit features the vivid animal portraits of local artist Elly Dowson. This group of paintings at Digby library are mostly farm animal portraits. They are individuals with their own personalities, and, from the canvas, they look you in the eye with their own kind of intelligence and dignity. These paintings can be viewed during open hours in September. Focusing on art and art history in university and studying graphic design, influenced how Elly Dowson sees the world. She was a graphic designer for about 20 years, reconnecting with painting when she started a community initiative with a neighbour. They replaced graffiti in the lane behind their homes in Toronto with at least 30 art murals to reclaim a safe space for their kids and community. She paints on wood, canvas, metal, textiles, and anything that will hold latex paint. She also paints in watercolour and has done pet portraits of beloved rabbits, cats, dogs, horses, as well as wild animals and insects.