Sue Coleman


Sue Coleman is a Wildlife painter from England who moved to Vancouver Island, in Canada in 1967. Coleman is known for her watercolour paintings in which she uses a controversial Indigenous art style. She also paints west-coast scenes, wildlife, and landscapes. Coleman has written and illustrated seven books.

Career

In the 1980s Coleman began to study British Columbia First Nations styles of art work. She says she received advice from noted artist Bill Reid, but nothing has substantiated this claim. After studying Indigenous art, she began to paint very distinctive Watercolor paintings considered interpretations of Indigenous art.

Controversy

Coleman's style is often referred to as a copy of Indigenous artists' work. Some people were confused by the work, and mistakenly believed that her paintings were done by an Indigenous artist. Her work has been referred to as Cultural appropriations or Knockoffs of Indigenous artwork.
Coleman has described herself as a "translator" of Indigenous art forms which drew more criticism. Prominent Indigenous artists George Littlechild, Roy Henry Vickers and Richard Hunt signed an open letter critical of Coleman's appropriation of Indigenous art. Because of the controversy, Coleman said she may begin doing art in a completely different style.
As a result of the controversy she has begun to identify herself as a "Non aboriginal Canadian artist".

Awards

"Silver Teal Award". Presented by Ducks Unlimited in British Columbia

Books

Coleman is from Colchester, Essex England. In 1967 she is married Canadian Dan Coleman and she lives in Cowichan Bay. Coleman was trained as a pastry chef but began painting in the 1980s. Coleman works to promote environmental conservation.