Dana Irving (b. 1959, Prince George, BC) is a Canadian landscape painter whose dramatic, stylized interpretations of the Pacific Northwest have earned her a distinctive place in contemporary West Coast art. She grew up in northern British Columbia, immersed in the outdoors — hunting, fishing, canoeing, and hiking through wild terrain. These early experiences shaped her deep reverence for nature, a theme that continues to anchor her work.

Dana’s formal studies span Douglas College, Emily Carr College of Art and Design, and Victoria College of Art. Her training included classical painting and life drawing, Chinese brushwork, interior design, graphic design, and photography — a blend of disciplines that informs the refined, sculptural, and design-driven quality of her landscapes.

In 1987 she founded Famous Painters Ltd., a commissioned arts company specializing in large-scale murals for private, corporate, and public clients across North America. These works, often monumental in scope, helped solidify her reputation as a versatile and ambitious painter capable of handling complex visual environments.

Alongside her commissioned career, Dana developed her personal gallery practice — a body of work that is unmistakably her own. Critics and collectors often describe her style as “Emily Carr meets Dr. Seuss”: deeply rooted in West Coast landscape traditions, yet playful, whimsical, and rhythmically exaggerated. Trees bend like characters, hills sweep in animated arcs, and weather becomes a living presence in the composition. Her influences include the Group of Seven, 1930s and 40s North American landscape painters, and the expressive organic forms found throughout the rainforest.

Living in North Vancouver, Dana works within sight of the mountains and forests that fuel her imagination. She draws inspiration from the quiet majesty of old-growth trees, emerald rivers, and the moody coastal weather. Her paintings reflect a constant exploration of movement, atmosphere, and the relationship between land and sky. What begins as observation becomes transformation — the real world distilled into a stylized visual language that is unmistakably hers.

Dana continues to exhibit in galleries in Vancouver, on Salt Spring Island, and across the West Coast. Her work is held in private collections throughout North America. She remains active in both commissioned and fine art, balancing large-scale projects with her personal studio practice.

As she writes, “What a joy it is to interpret the inspiring beauty of the Canadian landscape in my own language — and to connect with viewers through that shared experience.”

“There is such a joy, for an artist, to connect with your audience in any art form. For me as a painter, interpreting the inspiring beauty of the Canadian landscape in my own visual language is its own pleasure — but to have viewers connect with that language is a thrill beyond measure. It is a privilege to paint this country.”

SELECTED TRAINING

Douglas College — Fine Arts
Emily Carr College of Art and Design — Vancouver
Victoria College of Art — Victoria

FOUNDER

1987 — Famous Painters Ltd., large-scale mural & commissions company

SELECTED GALLERIES

Ian Tan Gallery — Vancouver
Steffich Fine Art — Salt Spring Island