A Mother’s Legacy

My mother, printmaker Christine Ross, graduated with a Diploma in Graphic Art from the Glasgow School of Art in 1960.  She created intaglio, relief, and lithographic prints; drawings; and paintings in a wide range of styles, exploring the human figure, devising illustrations for books, experimenting with abstract composition, and noting her surroundings in landscapes and wildflower studies.

Upon arriving in Canada, my mother held two solo exhibits at The Pollock Gallery, Toronto, in 1960 and 1961. She was the recipient of the C.W. Jefferys Award in Etching in 1963 and 1973 from the Canadian Society for Graphic Arts; was one of the Canadian women artists featured in the 1972 book Eclectic Eve; and was honoured to have her etching Summer included in the international UNICEF desk calendar as the only Canadian entry, in 1970. My mother exhibited nationally and internationally throughout her life only declaring “I have retired from art” one month before her death of cancer in 2015.

Born in England, my mother grew up in Scotland and lived much of her adult life in Toronto, Canada. She was a striking woman with brilliant blue eyes who always dressed elegantly, was incredibly well-read and knowledgeable about her craft. My earliest memories of my mother were seeing her etch copper plates and run off a series of prints using the large printing press in her home studio. There, I was often given coloured pencils, art books and masses of paper to occupy me while she worked or held meetings with other members of the Canadian Society of Graphic Arts. If we went out walking or to a park, she always had a sketchbook in hand. My mother also spent many hours taking me around local art galleries or artist studios. Ironically, although this seemed like such a chore as a child, I gravitated towards event design as an adult and designed many art exhibits for her and for fundraising initiatives.

My mother came from a family of artists and her legacy lives on in me and my two daughters Ciara and Teagan whose story I share next.

Are there artists you admire or who have inspired you? Please reach out and share your story!