After studying Fine Art in Ontario, Mia moved to Vancouver where she created paintings on canvas and hand painted dolls that did the rounds at A Walk Is Gallery, Cosmopolis, and Metropolitan Home. She then began sewing baby clothes and screen printing her drawings onto them. That evolved into a line of women's skirts, dresses, bags and tee shirts. Mia eventually joined the digital age and got a Mac which changed the way she does everything (although she recently put her 1930's rotary phone back into service). Editorial illustration, graphic design, and web design have been her main focus for the past six years.

Born: Putnam, Connecticut, USA. In the early 90s he traveled the world for a year visiting: Fiji, New Zealand, Australia, Indonesia, Singapore, Thailand, India, Nepal, Egypt, Greece, Italy, and France. When he returned to the states he began building what turned out to be a successful freelance illustration business. He currently works as an Art Director in an advertising agency. He also maintains his freelance illustration business in addition to creating fine art. When not working he enjoys spending time with his wife; cycling, traveling, hiking, cooking, and reading.

Rob makes book shelves from Library discards, Flea Market discoveries, garage sales and used bookstore bargain bins. Not “found art” but “searched art’ with an eye for themes, ideas or puns. Collections may take months. Jackets removed, papers recycled and re-assembled with wood scraps as fill.

Kirstie Tweed was born in Glasgow Scotland. Her parents brought her to Canada at age 3. Kirstie attended the Alberta College of Art in her hometown of Calgary. After graduating Kirstie moved to San Francisco for 12 years. Kirstie’s work has been collected privately in San Francisco, New York and Texas. She currently lives in Banff.

Lisa Brawn is a Calgary artist who makes small paintings and really big woodcuts. Visit her site expeditionism.com to find out more.

Dena has lived in Calgary since 1995 – the year she began her education at the Alberta College of Art & Design. She graduated with a BFA and Visual Communications Degree in 1999 and then began her freelance career. Dena’s illustration style is sophisticated and whimsical, lending itself well to a wide range of applications such as educational and children’s material, editorial work, corporate publications, advertsing campaigns, etc. She continues to grow as a full-time illustrator and enjoys sharing her knowledge at ACAD where she is an instructor.

San Francisco artist, Lisa Congdon, was born in 1968 to a textile artist mother and physicist father. Through her mother’s influence, Lisa’s love of art and craft began at a young age, though she has never had any formal artistic training. She uses her lack of training to her advantage; instead of relying on refined technique, she uses her own raw sense of what looks aesthetically pleasing as her guide. Lisa works in several mediums, including paper collage, wood, screen-printing, ink on paper, textiles and paint. Lisa has a passion for tree and anatomical imagery and incorporates them into much of her work. She’s also had a long love affair with the simple beauty of wood grain and the stark structural architecture of barren trees. Lisa’s work is bold and graphic, and she repeats imagery and uses words, phrases and numbers within and among her collections to express her messages. Each of her pieces, which are usually part of a larger series, starts as an idea in a small notebook she carries with her everywhere.

Elesavet’s work is as exotic as her name. A multi award winning artist, based in Southern Ontario, her work is heavy in mood and texture with a complexity that defies its simplistic style. Described as dream like and classic, she continues to challenge her viewers to take more than mood away from her paintings; tackling the hurdle of social commentary.

Jayson Fuerstenberg is a painter and printmaker working out of Calgary Alberta. He recieved his diploma from The Alberta College of Art and Design in 1998 and is a member of the Burnt Toast printmakers studio located in the heart of the Ogden industrial park. Jayson specializes in Monotype (single image) and mixed media work.

Stefanie Augustine is an illustrator currently living and working in New York. Her paintings have appeared in publications including The Humanist Magazine, Seventeen, Food and Wine, The North American Review and The New York Times, among others. Her small books and paintings have been included in group shows across the country, and have been recognized by Communication Arts, The Art Directors Club of New York and American Illustration. When not responding to assignments, she enjoys painting dogs and other pets.

Camilla Engman, graphic designer, artist and illustrator, was born in Vänersborg, Sweden in 1966. Today she lives and works in Gothenburg where she recently became a member of Konstnärernas Kollektivverkstad (KKV – Artists’ Collective Workshop). In addition to a 2-year art course at Dome art school, Camilla has studied Graphic Design at the HDK School of Design and Crafts at Gothenburg University where she graduated in 1995.