Denise knew she wanted to be an artist from a very young age - it was her first love, although it was later when she considered it a career path. Born in Cranbrook BC, Denise was raised enjoying the outdoors while growing up in the Kootenay and Columbia River Valleys.

She attended UBC and the University of Calgary achieving a Bachelor of Fine Arts/Education degree, and a degree in Environmental Design (City Planning). Denise moved to the Columbia Valley several years ago, and began to paint full-time.

Inspired greatly by the Group of Seven, and artists like Carl Rungius, and Andrew Wyeth, Denise sees herself constantly learning from their work. Her painting style is one of constant evolution, where she marries brush strokes with shapes, combines both neutral and bright colours, and experiments with light. Denise is further stepping into the shoes of these masters by working more and more towards painting “en plein air” (painting in the outdoors, as the Group of Seven did) to create a sense of immediacy and a connection to the natural world, which is very important to Denise.

Denise paints Canadian landscape in reverence of what she sees disappearing in our world. The land is extremely important to our Canadian identity – it is necessary to feel connected to where you live. As their connection with the land lessens, people tend to exploit it rather than enjoy it, and for Denise, her painting reaffirms the connection between the land and the viewer. Painting is the best way to celebrate the beauty of Canada; to glorify this wild land, without leaving footprints.