Angela Andersen is a professional visual artist and educator born and raised on Vancouver Island. The forest was her childhood playground and remains her greatest source of inspiration. Deeply connected to the land, Angela creates her work in recognition of her late father, her grandparents, and with deep respect for the Coast Salish people on whose traditional territory she lives and works. Her art pays homage to the spiritual and ecological richness of the West Coast, with a focus on the quiet tranquility of trees that surround her home.

Angela has dedicated her life to the visual arts. She holds an Honours Bachelor of Arts in Visual Arts from McMaster University and a Master of Arts in Art Education from the University of Victoria. Her commitment to artistic growth and cultural exchange has taken her abroad to Italy, where she taught and studied art, further shaping her creative practice and pedagogical approach.

Over the past two decades, Angela has built a thriving career as both an artist and an educator. She has taught art in the Cowichan Valley for over 20 years, inspiring students of all ages through community collaborations, workshops, and school-based initiatives. Her leadership in the arts was recognized by the City of Duncan with the Shirley McGuiness Memorial Award, honouring her significant contributions to community art in the Cowichan Valley.

Angela’s notable exhibitions and awards include Best in Show at the Cowichan Valley Fine Arts Show (2021), Best of the Best of the Cowichan Valley at Portals Gallery in Duncan BC (2020), Sooke Fine Arts Show in Sooke BC, and Just Jakes Restaurant in Duncan BC.

Angela’s notable publications include “Navigating Change-Art Practice and Innovation” in Cowichan Valley Voice (2019), and “Innovation and Tradition in Art Education’” BCATA journal vol. 55, number 2 (2013).