Harry Heine - Life and Work

Life and Work

Harry Heine lived in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada.

His career as an artist spanned forty years. He was a member of the Royal Society of Marine Artists, to which he was elected the only Canadian member in 1980. He was a Vice President of the Canadian Society of Marine Artists and of the Federation of Canadian Artists. He was made an Honorary Citizen of the City of Victoria in 1985 and an Honorary Alberta Artist in 1983 in recognition of his contribution to the Visual Arts. He was also a member of the Northwest Watercolour Society.

His work is in many public collections including the Legislative Buildings of the Government of British Columbia; Washington State Arts Commission Collection; Captain Cook Birthplace Museum, England; Mystic Seaport Museum, U.S.A.; The Provincial Maritime Museum, B.C.; Government House Collection, B.C.; The Mendel Art Gallery, Saskatchewan; Edmonton Art Gallery and the Alberta Art Foundation.

He painted murals for Expo ’86 in Vancouver, Syncrude Canada, the Royal Canadian Legion in Edmonton and the towns of Vegreville, Fort Saskatchewan, Chemainus and Chetwynd. Painting commissions include the Canada I Society (America’s Cup), Telecom Canada, H.M.C.S. Malahat, the Government of B.C. and Beautiful British Columbia Magazine. Other works range from carved murals and ship models to posters and book illustrations. He was made a Life Member of the Sail & Life Training Society and the Vintage Vessel Registry.

Heine shared his techniques through demonstrations, workshops and classes throughout Western Canada and overseas as guest lecturer for P&O Lines’ Swan Hellenic Cruises. From 1986 to 2004 he conducted private painting tours to varied locales in Europe, Asia and North America. His co-host on many of those trips was teacher and watercolourist, his elder daughter Caren Heine. His son Mark is an illustrator and fine artist and his youngest daughter Jennifer is a graphic designer and fine artist. All three children have been involved in gallery exhibitions with their father, including the major retrospective held at Winchester Galleries in June 2005.