BIO
Holly has gained national acclaim for her unique style of silk painting. She has participated in numerous group and solo shows and continues to exhibit nationally. Holly has designed for theatre productions and large scale public installations. Her most ambitious instillation to date is a larger than life environment created out of painted silk, “Light in the Forest” for Acadia University Art Gallery. Her work has been widely used in advertising and illustration, including her first children’s book “What is Pink”. Holly presently is working on 3 new books. In recent years Holly has branched out in to performance art, where she paints large works live on stage. Working with numerous musicians and performers including a cross Canada tour with Stuart McLean and the Vinyl Café, as well as performances with world renowned violinist Min Lee in Singapore and the National Art Centre Orchestra in Ottawa. Holly has also had successful performances with the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra and her own show with Symphony Nova Scotia where she painted an 8 x 32 foot painting live with the orchestra. Holly graduated from Nova Scotia College of Art and Design with a BFA and B.A.Ed. Holly’s work can be found in numerous private and public collections.
Holly has gained national acclaim for her unique style of silk painting. She has participated in numerous group and solo shows and continues to exhibit nationally. Holly has designed for theatre productions and large scale public installations. Her most ambitious instillation to date is a larger than life environment created out of painted silk, “Light in the Forest” for Acadia University Art Gallery. Her work has been widely used in advertising and illustration, including her first children’s book “What is Pink”. Holly presently is working on 3 new books. In recent years Holly has branched out in to performance art, where she paints large works live on stage. Working with numerous musicians and performers including a cross Canada tour with Stuart McLean and the Vinyl Café, as well as performances with world renowned violinist Min Lee in Singapore and the National Art Centre Orchestra in Ottawa. Holly has also had successful performances with the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra and her own show with Symphony Nova Scotia where she painted an 8 x 32 foot painting live with the orchestra. Holly graduated from Nova Scotia College of Art and Design with a BFA and B.A.Ed. Holly’s work can be found in numerous private and public collections.
Design
Selected Design Projects
2014 Painted 50 yds. of silk for Mermaid Theatre “Stella Queen of the Snow” Sets.
2014 Illustrations for “Note Kids” Piano education books
2013 Port of Wines, Halifax. Created 50 ft. banner for feature country Italy
2013 Art work for Pete’s Frootique Wine Truck.
2012 Confrerie des chevaliers du tastevin, Burgandy Wine Conference Halifax.
Designed art work to brand the event. Promotional Material, Menus, Wine Label.
2012 Port of Wine Festival, Halifax. Designed and built thirty, 12ft. illuminated silk pillars and a 50ft. backdrop for the event.
2011 Opening of Dalhousie Science Centre. Designed and built two 50ft. banners depicting the human body from synapses to the entire body.
2011 Port of Wine Festival, Halifax. Designed, and created a 50ft. banner for the feature country Australia
2010 ICE Awards (Creative Advertising Award) Designed installation for stage backdrop. 45x10ft.
2010 Cadance production of “The Nutcracker” Atlantic Theatre Festival. Designed and painted 40x15ft. back drop of “Candy Land”
2009 Port of Wines Festival, Halifax. Designed 50ft. backdrop and entry way for event.
1999 – 2009 Designed two shows for Mermaid Theatre including sets costumes and puppets and created hand painted silk yardage for the productions. “When Dinosaurs Dine by Moonlight” written by Sheree Fitch. “The Little Lame Prince” Dinah Maria Mulock Craik. I have also designed fabric for a number of other Mermaid productions including “Guess How Much I Love You” Sam McBratney.
2008 Festival of Trees, Halifax. Designed a Christmas ornament to raise funds for Mental Health Nova Scotia. Sold in all east coast Lawtons Drug Stores.
2007 Illustrated children’s book “What is Pink” a poem by Christina Rossetti. NFLD Board of education purchased 6000 books to be given to all primary and grade one students.
Selected Design Projects
2014 Painted 50 yds. of silk for Mermaid Theatre “Stella Queen of the Snow” Sets.
2014 Illustrations for “Note Kids” Piano education books
2013 Port of Wines, Halifax. Created 50 ft. banner for feature country Italy
2013 Art work for Pete’s Frootique Wine Truck.
2012 Confrerie des chevaliers du tastevin, Burgandy Wine Conference Halifax.
Designed art work to brand the event. Promotional Material, Menus, Wine Label.
2012 Port of Wine Festival, Halifax. Designed and built thirty, 12ft. illuminated silk pillars and a 50ft. backdrop for the event.
2011 Opening of Dalhousie Science Centre. Designed and built two 50ft. banners depicting the human body from synapses to the entire body.
2011 Port of Wine Festival, Halifax. Designed, and created a 50ft. banner for the feature country Australia
2010 ICE Awards (Creative Advertising Award) Designed installation for stage backdrop. 45x10ft.
2010 Cadance production of “The Nutcracker” Atlantic Theatre Festival. Designed and painted 40x15ft. back drop of “Candy Land”
2009 Port of Wines Festival, Halifax. Designed 50ft. backdrop and entry way for event.
1999 – 2009 Designed two shows for Mermaid Theatre including sets costumes and puppets and created hand painted silk yardage for the productions. “When Dinosaurs Dine by Moonlight” written by Sheree Fitch. “The Little Lame Prince” Dinah Maria Mulock Craik. I have also designed fabric for a number of other Mermaid productions including “Guess How Much I Love You” Sam McBratney.
2008 Festival of Trees, Halifax. Designed a Christmas ornament to raise funds for Mental Health Nova Scotia. Sold in all east coast Lawtons Drug Stores.
2007 Illustrated children’s book “What is Pink” a poem by Christina Rossetti. NFLD Board of education purchased 6000 books to be given to all primary and grade one students.
Selected Performances
2014 Mocean Dance Collaboration. Live performance painting.
2013 Ice Castle, Yellowknife.
2013 Laval Symphony, A series of performances for family shows.
2012 Toronto Symphony Youth Orchestra and TorQ at Roy Thompson Hall, Toronto
2012 Halifax Waterfront Development Ocean Day Celebration with Scott McMillan’s Celtic Mass for the Sea with Symphony Nova Scotia.
2009-2013 “Robert Pilon and Friends” 10 shows across Canada, most recently in NFLD.
2010-2013 Boris Brott and the Hamilton Symphony Orchestra. 6 shows.
2010- Symphony Nova Scotia “Holly’s Magic Brush” (30ft live painting)
2010-“Women Only” My own production at Pier 21 Halifax.
2010-Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra, Manitoba.
2009- “One Enchanted Evening” My own production at Marigold Theatre, Truro.
2008-“Jazz East” festival, Halifax
2007- National Art Centre Orchestra, Ottawa
2007-Min Lee tour. Singapore. (5 shows)
2006-Toured with Stuart Mclean and the Vinyl Café. Across Canada 26 shows.
2014 Mocean Dance Collaboration. Live performance painting.
2013 Ice Castle, Yellowknife.
2013 Laval Symphony, A series of performances for family shows.
2012 Toronto Symphony Youth Orchestra and TorQ at Roy Thompson Hall, Toronto
2012 Halifax Waterfront Development Ocean Day Celebration with Scott McMillan’s Celtic Mass for the Sea with Symphony Nova Scotia.
2009-2013 “Robert Pilon and Friends” 10 shows across Canada, most recently in NFLD.
2010-2013 Boris Brott and the Hamilton Symphony Orchestra. 6 shows.
2010- Symphony Nova Scotia “Holly’s Magic Brush” (30ft live painting)
2010-“Women Only” My own production at Pier 21 Halifax.
2010-Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra, Manitoba.
2009- “One Enchanted Evening” My own production at Marigold Theatre, Truro.
2008-“Jazz East” festival, Halifax
2007- National Art Centre Orchestra, Ottawa
2007-Min Lee tour. Singapore. (5 shows)
2006-Toured with Stuart Mclean and the Vinyl Café. Across Canada 26 shows.
Selected Solo Shows
2013- “Light in the Forest” Acadia University Art Gallery, Wolfville NS
2012- “Nature of Seasons” Harvest Gallery, Wolfville, NS
2010- “Symphony on Silk” Argyle Gallery, Halifax
2010- “Two Story House” Trinity Gallery, NB
2009- “Inappropriate” Fred Gallery, Halifax, NS
2007- “Couplings” West End Gallery, Edmonton, AB
2006- “Pink Tales and Rhymes” Argyle Gallery, Halifax, NS
2005- “The Human Animal” Argyle Gallery, Halifax, NS
2004- “The Nature of Relationships” West End Gallery, Victoria, BC
2003- “The Terrarium” Museum of Natural History, Halifax, NS