Diana Durrand graduated from the University of Victoria with an honours Bachelor of Fine Art degree. Over the years she has continued to explore and push boundaries, experimenting with various mediums including acrylics, watercolours, soft pastels, felt, liquid plastics, and found objects of all sorts.
Diana draws inspiration from the compassionate spirit expressed in shared human experiences. She translates ideas into visual form. Much of her work explores our relationship with other species and our role as ‘keepers': Where are the pigs, where are they? Gallus Domestics, we are the keepers; Humming for the life of bees for the love of bees; and 100 Sleeping Dandelions are examples.
More recently, starting with her Paper Dolls series, Diana has been creating works combining fabric and acrylic on canvas. Creating collections like Still Life with Rabbits and Human Touch, she has perfected techniques for incorporating fabric designs as a new palette. Animals are playing an increasingly large role in her compositions.
Diana's work is in the permanent collection at the Canadian Museum of History, the Canada Council Art Bank, and the International Quilt Museum, Lincoln, Nebraska. She exhibited in Canada Place Expo 86; Bau-xi Gallery, Vancouver; Open Space, Victoria; Del Bello Gallery, Toronto; Transportal Exhibit, Berlin, Germany; Burnaby Art Gallery; Surrey Art Gallery; Fort Gallery, Fort Langley; Art Gallery of Greater Victoria; Presentation House, Vancouver; Prague Museum of Agriculture, Prague; Science Centre, Ottawa; Michigan State University, Luz Gallery, Victoria; Collective Works, Victoria; Martin Batchelor, Victoria; Gage Gallery, Victoria; Trinity Western University, Langley; Place des Arts, Coquitlam; Robert Bateman Centre, Victoria, Excellent Frameworks Gallery, Duncan, Cowichan Performing Arts Centre and various solo and group shows locally.
Diana lives with her husband, writer Craig Spence, in Chemainus, B.C., on Vancouver Island, Canada. For inquiries, call 250-210-0921 or email ddurrand@shaw.ca.