Island Mountain Arts

Just Announced in 2011 - Sylvia Regehr (Graham) Memorial Scholarship to the Toni Onley Artists’ Project:
Sylvia Regehr (1962 - 2011) who was a local artist, past IMA board member and the 2010 recipient of the Sonia Cornwall Scholarship passed away in 2011 after a long battle with cancer. With initial donations by her husband Bill Graham and fellow artist Eliza Fry, IMA was able to establish this scholarship in her name for an artist to attend the Toni Onley Artists’ Project.

Sylvia Regehr (Graham)  - Bio Written by Sylvia

                My first formal training in art began at the high school level. I was fortunate to have a wonderful teacher who stressed a rather formal approach to art education based on drawing and art history.  Although I had never planned to be an artist, this class gave me the inspiration and direction to do so.

                I attended College in Winnipeg from 1981-1983, where I took a two year Advertising Art Program. This was a rigorous course focusing on both graphic design and illustration. It taught me much of the self-discipline and perseverance necessary to pursue a career in art. After college I worked as a commercial artist for two years but soon felt I had to move on to pursue other interests.

                In 1985, I enrolled in the Forestry program at U.B.C.  While at university I took a fine art studio course, which introduced me to mixed media work.  I found that creating work this way was quite challenging and that it provided for endless exploration of the combination of theme and material.

                Quesnel became my home after graduating from University. I soon learned that an artist living in a smaller centre must embrace “self education”. I have pursued this by taking workshops, by engaging in personal research and by participating in the local arts community.