Mia Lane

Born in Hamilton, Ontario in 1955, Mia Lane graduated in 1976 from Sheridan College with high honors and an award for Excellence in Illustration. She then worked as a designer and illustrator for the Halton Region Conservation Authority for seven years. She has been working professionally as a fine artist since 1984, and is best known for her realistic paintings of the animals and country scenes she is familiar with. Mia’s studying and painting plein air for the past five years has had a significant impact on her work, creating a more painterly and looser style, but her most recent work is revealing yet another transition which Mia describes as her ‘metaphorical landscapes’. These pieces are recreations of her landscapes and meant to convey other thoughts.

Art workshops attended include academic painting methods with life models, and sight-size painting techniques with Michael John Angel, and plein air workshops with artist Dwayne Harty in Algonquin Park. Mia paints outdoors from life on a regular basis as well as with a group of artists yearly in the fall in Algonquin Park. She is an active participant at Arts on Main Gallery, a local co-operative gallery in Picton. Her work can be seen there, at her home studio, and at Gallery-on-the-lake in Buckhorn, ON.

In October 2005, WPBS TV (Watertown, New York) produced a half-hour documentary called “The Artist Naturalist: Mia Lane” covering over 40 years of this Canadian artist’s career.

Mia’s art work and involvement with conservation lead to the 1996 Ontario Federation of Anglers & Hunters ‘Artist of the Year’ Award and again in 2000 she was honoured with this award, with her art helping to raise funds for numerous conservation groups and other charities.

In 1994, 17of Mia Lane’s originals were selected to be part of an exhibition and sale of Canadian art in Japan in conjunction with the opening of the new Canadian Consulate.

In 1988, Canada Post commissioned Mia to create four special “Dogs of Canada” postage stamps to commemorate the Canadian Kennel Club’s centennial.

Corporate Collections

Canada Post Postal Museum, Ottawa, ON

Noteworthy Commissions

2007 Outdoor Canada Magazine 4 sporting dog illustrations
2001 British Columbia Wildlife Conservation Stamp
2001 Ontario OFAH Conservation Stamp
1999 Ontario OFAH Conservation Stamp
1998 Sask. Wildlife Federation Conservation Stamp
1998 Nova Scotia Conservation Stamp
1997 Ontario OFAH Conservation Stamp
1988 “Dogs of Canada” (4) postage stamps for Canada Post Corp


Awards & Honours

2008 Art in the County – Juror’s Award
2007/96 The Artist’s Magazine Annual Art Competition – Finalist - Animal Art category
2007 Quinte Waters Show – Juror’s Award , Honorable Mention
2007 Expressions Show - People’s Choice Award
2005 WPBS TV Annual Art Auction - featured artist
2005 Inspired By The Group Of Seven Show – Honorable Mention
2005 Sandbanks Provincial Park Artist in Residence
2002 Art in the County - People’s Choice Award
2000 Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters- Artist of the Year
2000 Birds in Art Show –Prince Edward County – Best Painting in Show Award
1999 Art in the County - People’s Choice Award
1999 Art in the County – Honorable Mention
1999 Art Show at the Dog Show (Kansas) – Best Retriever Painting
1998 Art in the County - People’s Choice Award
1998 Art in the County – Juror’s Award
1996 Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters- Artist of the Year
1996 Art in the County – People’s Choice Award
1994/95 Nfld. and Labrador Conservation Stamp
1991 Ducks Unlimited National Artist Award
1990 Ducks Unlimited Supplemental Artist Award
1989 Ducks Unlimited Supplemental Artist Award
1989 Illustration Award – Dog Writers Association of America