Scratch board llustration by Wes Bates
BIO
Wesley W. Bates was born in the Yukon in 1952 and raised in South Western Saskatchewan. He moved to Hamilton after leaving Mount Alison University in 1977. Bates pursued a career as a painter and printmaker in Hamilton where he had numerous exhibitions. In 1981 he took up wood engraving and freelance illustration. He also established West Meadow Press a small private press through which he has illustrated and published limited edition books since 1983.
Primarily known for his work as a Wood Engraver, Bates has worked for major publishing houses such as McClelland & Stewart, Penguin, Random House, HarperCollins, Larkspur Press, Porcupine¹s Quill, Bird & Bull Press and Gaspereau Press. He has illustrated books by such authors as W.O. Mitchell, Wendell Berry, Ed McClanahan, Richard Taylor, Stuart McLean, Timothy Findley, Russell Smith, and Don McKay.
Bates’ work is represented in public collections including, The Art Gallery of Hamilton, Laurentian University, Glenbow Art Gallery, Grimsby Public Gallery, University of Kentucky, Thomas Fisher Rare Book Library and San Francisco Public Library - Special Collections. His work is held in private collections in Canada, the United States, England, Ireland, Australia, Spain, Japan and China.
In 1993 nine works were presented to China by the province of Ontario.
In 2000 Bates received the Hamilton Arts Award from the Hamilton and Region Arts Council.
In 2001 Bates was Artist In Residence at Joseph Schneider Haus in Kitchener.
In 2003 Wofford College in Spartaburg South Carolina mounted a retrospective exhibition of Bates’ Wood Engravings.
Bates now lives in Clifford Ontario where he works at Wood Engraving, Painting and Fine Press Printing. His studio and gallery are on the main street and there you will find his drawings, paintings, wood engravings, solar etchings, and his newest adventure, glass engraving.
PORTFOLIO
(examples of Wesley Bate's work are posted below)
Wood engraving
Scratch board illustration
