DAN VARNALS was born and raised in London, England and received his art education there, from St. Martin’s School of Art.  Dan eventually moved to Canada where he obtained Bachelor and Masters Degrees in art education from the University of British Columbia. After graduation, Dan worked as a high school art teacher, a career which he continued until taking early retirement in 1999.

Dan is a realist and his work is inspired by his local environment, whether it is the coastal rainforest or the functional clutter of fishing boats on the Fraser River.  “The shapes, patterns and colours found amongst the fishing boats; the ropes, rigging, chains, hoses, nets, etc., as well as the boats themselves.  And all this is depicted as reflections in the water, both revealed and concealed by sunlight and shadow.”  Dan is fascinated by light and shadow and the way these play on familiar objects.  His paintings have strong tonal contrast and soft colour values that result in very striking images with abundant layering of detail.