The Town’s Street Banner Artist Program invited the public to send in their submissions for new banner artwork. We received over 100 submissions from artists across Vancouver Island.
A Review Panel, with Town Council, Town staff, and representatives from The Old School House Arts Centre, and the Chamber of Commerce, deliberated and evaluated each submission.
We are excited to share the final 10 artworks, from six local artists, to be displayed for the years to come.
Nixon Godberson is a grade 11 student with a focus on digital art themed with nature and the outdoor environment of Vancouver Island. Nixon focuses on simple, clean designs that translate well to large-scale artwork.
A Qualicum Beach local, Nixon is inspired by local forests, coastline, and outdoor environment.
This piece represents the mountains as the backdrop of Qualicum Beach, showing forests leading to the coastline and ocean. Killer whales and Lasqueti Island are included in the distance, representing local views from the shoreline.
Daniel Francis Gray has experience across fine arts, soft pastels, and graphic design. Daniel’s work has been recognized and awarded the Silver Plate from the Pastel Society of Canada. Reaching beyond Canadian displays, Daniel’s pieces have been shown in New York, Paris, and California. Daniel has painted more portraits than most, losing count when he reached 2,600 portraits in 2010.
An avid supporter of The Old School House, Daniel has been involved with and supported the Qualicum Beach arts community for the last four decades. From live drawing sessions and art exhibits, to selling his work, Daniel has been creating work built from his appreciation for the Qualicum Beach shoreline and his ongoing life experiences.
Art in the Garden portrays Qualicum Beach in the summer with the animated Milner Gardens. Happy people can be found enjoying art and music in the gardens on a sunny summer day. This is a common gathering point for Qualicum Beach and pays homage to Qualicum’s unique sense of community and connection.
Born in Vancouver British Columbia, Marion-Lea graduated with honours from the Vancouver School of Art (now Emily Carr University of Art & Design). She has a variety of creative experience, from artist-run collectives and dance companies, to illustration, printmaking and painting. More recently, Marion-Lea has returned to printmaking using digital technology.
With a theme of nature, Marion-Lea’s work is made in the hope that the nature of Qualicum will continue to flourish as a global biodiversity hotspot, rich in unique ecosystems and species, but facing threats from development.
Marion-Lea has received numerous awards, including two Canada Council Short-Term grants, and had work exhibited and sold to public and private collections in Canada, the US, France and China.
“Resting Deer” gives a sense of the wild beauty that lives alongside us. This piece is an homage to the amazing resourcefulness of our wild species.
“Pine Tree” reflects the ability of these trees to withstand the harsh conditions on the shoreline, and their gnarled appearance shows how they manage to survive high winds, droughts and other forces. This piece is an homage to their role as a keystone species, being the basis of the food web that provides for many other species.
“Golden Bird” is dedicated to the roughly 500 bird species that make Vancouver Island their home and are one of the joys of living in Qualicum Beach. But songbirds also need protection as their numbers are down, and this piece celebrates these delightful inhabitants of our town.
Based in the Parksville Qualicum Beach area, Angie Ooms focuses her photography on the wildlife and landscapes of Vancouver Island’s central coast. Her work captures everything from local community events to the delicate nesting birds of French Creek.
By sharing her images with non-profits like the Brant Festival and Beachfest, Angie uses her photography to highlight the conservation efforts and local spirit that define her home. For Angie, the best stories are the ones told through the natural beauty of the Island itself.
Qualicum Beach is defined by its waterfront boardwalk and its remarkable sunsets. The shoreline is an active, welcoming space where residents regularly swim, paddle, and spend time on the water. This photograph reflects that everyday connection to place: a calm evening, warm light, and people quietly enjoying the beach in a way that feels natural and true to the community. It captures the simple, lived-in beauty that makes Qualicum Beach so distinctive.
This photograph celebrates Qualicum Beach by focusing on a familiar community landmark, the train station. The train station and surrounding grounds reflect the town’s attention to shared spaces that remain an integral part of everyday life. Photographed in warm evening light, the image highlights the quiet comfort of the setting and the surrounding landscape. This sense of beauty, care, and character is a defining quality of Qualicum Beach.
Sylvie Peltier has been painting with acrylics for over a decade. An Exhibiting Member of the Federation of Canadian Artists since 2021, Sylvie has participated in 39 group shows and six solo shows.
A member of The Old School House, Sylvie has taught courses on documentary filmmaking drawing and continued to engage with the local arts community.
Since moving to Qualicum Beach in 2023, Sylvie’s work has been shown at the MAC Arts Centre in Parksville, Qualicum Beach Art Supply and Gallery, Ports and Passes, the Beach Club Resort, the Brant Carving and Art show, the Comox International Airport and the Art Gallery of Greater Victoria.
Unexpected Visitor was inspired by the sudden appearance of deer running along the beach, a moment that felt both rare and unforgettable. The composition is designed with a clear visual hierarchy: the beach umbrella as the primary focal point, followed by the deer and then the beach towel, creating a narrative of an unexpected visitor passing through while a mother and child are momentarily away on a walk. Playful in tone, the banner highlights Qualicum Beach as a welcoming summer destination where moments of surprise and connection are part of everyday life.
Susan Schaefer had 25 years of experience as a professional artist. Susan also taught arts across the Oceanside area, Comox Valley and the Saskatchewan prairies.
With experience in publishing and magazines, Susan was involved with the Island Arts Magazine. From publishing to organizing and hosting the magazine, Susan supported and promoted Vancouver Island art for years.
For 15 years, Susan was an artist in residence at Qualicum’s The Old School House Arts Centre and remained heavily involved with their teaching faculty.
The Whisker Family is comprised of two images: Willy Whiskers on the top and Grandma Wilma and Baby below. There is always a sense of delight when one or more of these whiskered characters appear, peeking up from the water. Their playful charm has a way of bringing a smile to anyone who encounters them.
Beyond its beautiful beaches, Qualicum Beach is also home to remarkable old-growth forests. This painting invites the viewer to look upward and appreciate the quiet grandeur of these ancient giants.
Through an open intake last December, the Town received over 100 submissions of banner artwork and ideas from artists across Vancouver Island.
A review panel was developed including a member of Town Council, Town staff and representatives from The Old Schools House Arts Centre and Chamber of Commerce.
The panel evaluated each submission, resulting in the final 10 artworks selected that will be proudly displayed across Qualicum Beach for years to come.
The Town’s existing street banners are in poor condition and outdated. The Town is taking this opportunity to highlight the work of artists with a connection to Qualicum Beach.
The Program Guidelines provide an overview of the entire Street Banner Artists Program, from submission to completion of artwork.
