Biography of George William Bates
George W. Bates was born in London, England. He came to North America in 1954, living in Toronto and Los Angeles before settling in Vancouver, Canada, in 1956. His approach to painting draws from both the realist and impressionist traditions. His influences include British impressionist, Alfred Sisley, as well as the great marine painters Montague Dawson and Norman Wilkinson. Bates also learned much from his friend of thirty years, Edwin C. Lockey.
Bates was a Charter Member of the Canadian Society of Marine Artists and was elected Senior Member of the Federation of Canadian Artists in 1983. In 2008 he was awarded the "Lifetime Achievement Award" by the FCA. Married, with three children, Bates lived and painted in West Vancouver until 2009, when he died at age 78. His favoured subjects were the places he constantly revisited and came to know best through his art: The Pacific Northwest, California, and the American Southwest, but also the street scenes and landscapes of Europe, especially France and his first homeland, Britain.
Bates was a Charter Member of the Canadian Society of Marine Artists and was elected Senior Member of the Federation of Canadian Artists in 1983. In 2008 he was awarded the "Lifetime Achievement Award" by the FCA. Married, with three children, Bates lived and painted in West Vancouver until 2009, when he died at age 78. His favoured subjects were the places he constantly revisited and came to know best through his art: The Pacific Northwest, California, and the American Southwest, but also the street scenes and landscapes of Europe, especially France and his first homeland, Britain.
Memberships
- Charter member: Canadian Society of Marine Artists
- Senior Member since 1983: Federation of Canadian Artists