Yukon painter Ted Harrison celebrated in biography

Ted Harrison, whose vivid, colourful works depict rugged landscapes from Canada's North, is celebrating his 83rd birthday in Whitehorse this week with the launch of his official biography.

Ted Harrison: Painting Paradise by Katherine Gibson chronicles the longtime Yukoner's life, from his humble beginnings in an English village to the 25 years he spent in the Yukon.

The book merges his story with more than 70 images from Harrison's works, including his first Yukon paintings.

"What I wanted to do was to tell a story of a miner's son who grew up in England and came to Canada and became an artist," Gibson told CBC News in an interview that aired Tuesday.

"I try to weave into that his development as an artist, because they're very much connected. You can't separate the man from his art. Ted is who he paints."

Known for illustrations, books

Born on Aug. 28, 1926, in Wingate, a small mining village in northeast England, Harrison moved to Carcross, Yukon, in 1968 to work as a teacher after he had worked in India, East Africa, Malaysia and New Zealand.

His northern-themed paintings can be seen on the covers of popular children's books The Cremation of Sam McGee (1986) and The Shooting of Dan McGrew (1988), both by Robert Service.

Harrison also wrote and illustrated his own books, including the acclaimed Children of the Yukon (1977), A Northern Alphabet (1982) and O Canada (1992).

He was named to the Order of Canada in 1987. He moved to Victoria in 1993, where he received the Order of British Columbia in 2008. He also has honourary doctorate degrees from four Canadian universities.

Gibson said the biography is the product of four years of research, including interviews with Harrison and those who know him, as well as details from private letters, diaries and other documents.

Not recognized nationally

"A lot of love went into creating the book, and I think for all of us that know Ted Harrison that's an easy thing to feel for this man," she said.

While Harrison's artistic legacy is secured in the Yukon, Gibson said he is not represented in the collection of the National Gallery of Canada.

"Currently, there are no Yukon artists represented in our national art gallery in Ottawa. I think that's a travesty," Gibson said.

"Perhaps this book will encourage people down there and people across the country to realize that the voice of Yukon artists is valid and important and needs to be recognized in our national art gallery."

Gibson and Harrison will be available for signings at the official launch, which takes place Wednesday evening at the Yukon Arts Centre in Whitehorse.