A prominent artist from New Westminster has passed away in his home in the Gulf Islands.
Jack Campbell, whose artwork graces homes around the world, continued painting up until his death on March 26.
“He certainly will be missed,” said Coun. Chuck Puchmayr. “His art is all over the world – even, I believe, at Buckingham Palace.”
Born and raised in New Westminster, Campbell taught drawing and painting for the Emily Carr Institute of Art and Design outreach program and with the Kootenay School of Art in Nelson. He also taught at various summer schools and art organizations throughout British Columbia and had a studio in his home on Saturna Island.
A graduate of the Vancouver School of Art (Emily Carr Institute of Art and Design), Campbell had a gallery at Westminster Quay for a number of years.
“Jack was an amazing fellow, really upbeat. Always smiling, happy go lucky,” Puchmayr said. “He was a really renowned artist. His art is all over the world. He had such a unique style. He trained with Jack Shadbolt.”
Campbell’s work can be found in private and corporate collections in North America and Europe.
Many local residents are familiar with his paintings of the Fraser River. He donated prints to local organizations as fundraisers.
Campbell moved to Saturna Island with his wife more than a decade ago, initially staying at Puchmayr’s cabin.
In 2011, Campbell attended the Cultural Crawl event at the Amelia Douglas Gallery at Douglas College.
“The Fraser will always be very important to me – from the building of the bridges, to the mills, to the use of the old beehive burners that would burn sawdust from the mills. There is constant activity on the river – the fishing boats, the tugs,” he said in a press release about the event. “Now, on the Gulf Islands, I’ve gone from fresh water to salt water and sea life, and it’s a nice feeling between the two.”
