Nora Frances Elizabeth Collyer - Eastern Townships

  • Eastern Townships
  • Oil on Board
  • 12 x 14 in
  • circa 1930
  • Sold
  • Private Collection



Nora Frances Elizabeth Collyer (June 7, 1898 – June 11, 1979) was a renowned Canadian modernist painter, celebrated for her depictions of the Canadian landscape, nature, and urban communities. Born in Montreal, Collyer began her artistic journey at the Art Association of Montreal, studying under influential teachers such as Alberta Cleland, Maurice Cullen, and William Brymner. Brymner, known for his emphasis on self-expression, significantly influenced Collyer's artistic development.

Collyer was the youngest member of the Beaver Hall Group, an iconic collective of Canadian women artists established in 1920. The group's co-founder, A.Y. Jackson, encouraged the members to break free from traditional academic constraints and embrace modernist styles. Collyer's work is distinguished by its harmonious shapes, rich colours, and soft rhythms, with favourite subjects including flowers, forests, riverscapes, old houses, and churches.

Throughout her career, Collyer exhibited her work at prestigious events such as the British Empire Exhibition in Wembley (1924 and 1925) and the 1939 New York World's Fair. In addition to her artistic achievements, Collyer was a dedicated teacher and volunteer, teaching at the Children's Memorial Hospital of Montreal and offering private art lessons in her home.

Nora Collyer's legacy as a key figure in Canadian art endures, with her work continuing to inspire and captivate audiences. Her contributions to the Beaver Hall Group and her unique artistic style remain celebrated in the annals of Canadian art history.

More Artwork from this Artist

  • St. Fidele, PQ

  • Oil on Canvas
  • 16 x 18 in
  • 1936
  • Price available on request
  • Floral Still Life

  • Oil on Panel
  • 10.5 x 8.5 in
  • CAD $6000.00
  • Red Poppy, Lake Wonish

  • Oil on Panel
  • 14 x 12 in
  • 1946
  • CAD $16000.00

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