Prairie Fire

Bill Mayberry immigrated to Canada from Northern Ireland in 1970 at age 21, settling in Winnipeg with his wife Joan. His interest in art began during his high school years, where he preferred creating props for school plays rather than playing football. With four years of carpentry experience, Mayberry initially worked on assembly lines and construction sites during his first year in Canada. His path into the Canadian art world began when Joan spotted a small classified ad seeking a "Qualified Picture Framer" at the Hovmand Gallery on Kennedy Street. While working in the gallery's frameshop, he encountered reproductions of Group of Seven works from the Sampson Matthews prints collection. This exposure marked his first encounter with Canadian art and sparked his fascination with their unique renderings of the Canadian landscape.

After working for gallery owner Neil Hovmand, Mayberry was offered the opportunity to purchase the business. In 1972, Bill and Joan opened Mayberry Art and Picture Framing at 763 Selkirk Avenue. As he reflects on his journey, Mayberry notes: "Coming to Canada as an immigrant, I believe, gave me an advantage to see Canadian art with fresh eyes and have never taken it for granted." Over more than five decades in the Canadian art business, he has built a reputation for identifying and nurturing talent within the Canadian art community.

Mayberry began creating his own artwork over 40 years ago. He started with ink study drawings of his children playing hockey, portraits and landscapes before evolving to abstract experimentation. His fascination with Canadian abstract expressionism from the 1940s through 1960s led him to experiment with modern mediums. Despite limited time for painting due to business responsibilities, he continues this work. His approach to art-making remains non-commercial. Few people know he has painted for over 40 years, and proceeds from his artwork sales are donated to charity.

"Being immersed in Canadian art and surrounded by so many talented Canadian artists it was impossible not to attempt making art for myself," Mayberry explains. His five decades of exposure to Canadian art and personal contact with artists has informed both his business approach and his artistic practice. He believes this experience allows him to walk "partly" in their shoes and make better paintings. His own work reflects his deep understanding of Canadian abstract expressionism and the landscape traditions that first captured his attention in that Winnipeg frameshop over fifty years ago.