I was born in Comox, on beautiful Vancouver Island in British Columbia. The daughter of an RCAF Air Traffic Controller and a stay-at-home mother who was always there for my siblings and me. We moved a lot in my childhood, and I lived nine years of my young life overseas, mostly in West Germany.
As a child and young adult, I always enjoyed being creative and was raised to greatly appreciate handcrafted artwork. I started working after graduating from high school and eventually found myself with a local utility company that evolved into a 36-year career.
In my late forties, I met an artist who encouraged me to sign up for her art lessons in watercolour. Although doubtful at first, I quickly fell in love with it and I continued to take those lessons for 11 years. In 2016 the art instructor encouraged all her adult pupils to create an art show together and I nervously invited friends and family to attend. It was a tremendous success, and it gave me the confidence to spread my wings and try other mediums with different instructors. Retirement provided me more time to paint and volunteer in the art community.
My preferred medium is now acrylic on canvas or wood. I mostly paint in a realistic style, sometimes adding a touch of whimsy, as I try to evoke a story for the viewer. I am inspired by my passions for nature, gardens, and travel—painting plein air and from my photographs.
In 2025, I moved from Maple Ridge to Parksville and find myself thoroughly enjoying being a permanent resident on Vancouver Island again.
How you can get in touch with Valerie:
Email: vwheater@shaw.ca
Website: ValWheaterArt.com
