DAVID IAIN McDONALD has been showing his work at Sunbury Shores for several years in group shows such as Deck the Walls and Making Waves—his pieces consistently have charm and are steeped in atmosphere.
Whether land or seascapes or moments in someone’s day, he paints portraits of what he sees. Figures in the landscape are busy doing their work, in the same way, his trees, rivers, and clouds are focussed on doing theirs.

David was born in Cornwall, Ontario. He spent his career in forestry working across Canada and the northeastern United States and before teaching forestry in Fredericton, NB.

David started painting in 2003, but it was not until 2010 that he began spending a fair portion of his time with his artwork. He has been painting full-time since retiring from teaching in 2013.

The subjects in his work range from still life to landscape to abstract. He paints purely from imagination and prefers working in a large format. When he finishes a painting, he composes a verse or poem and writes it on the canvas. They reflect his thoughts on the painting, or what was felt as the painting evolved.

“Seasons of Water” is an exhibit of paintings created over the last several years. As the title would suggest, water in some form, will play a central role in each work.
After all, we come from water, we cannot exist without it and as living creatures, we are composed primarily of it.
But beyond that, or perhaps because of it, we are inextricably drawn to it.
As flowing water, both its tranquility and rage cry out to our senses.
As the sirens did to ancient mariners it beckons us.
As a solid it allows us to walk on water, and still, for others, there is rest below a warm blanket of white.
In its final state, it hides, obscures, and blurs that which we would see clearly.
I hope you enjoy these visions and verse of the seasons of water.”
– David