Ross is a Canadian landscape painter currently living in Vancouver, B.C.                     

Born and raised in the Downsview area of Toronto, Ross Paley discovered his passion for art and music at an early age. As a child, he painted his Tonka trucks and spent countless hours sketching everything from rock musicians to military figures inspired by magazine illustrations. It quickly became clear that art would become a lifelong pursuit.

Ross’s artistic journey took an unexpected turn when he joined a team of restoration artists under David Hannivan & Co. For more than six years, he helped restore some of Ontario’s historic theatres, including the Elgin/Winter Garden, the Pantages, and the Brantford Theatre. This experience strengthened his appreciation for craftsmanship, history, and the enduring beauty of fine art. While working in downtown Toronto, Ross attended the Ontario College of Art and Design, where he took life drawing and colour theory class’s in the evening.

Coming from a family with generations of artisans, Ross has always been surrounded by creativity. Today, he primarily works in oils and watercolours, while continuing to explore other mediums as inspiration strikes.

Now living in beautiful British Columbia, Ross finds endless inspiration in the province’s dramatic landscapes, changing seasons, and ever-changing light. Whether painting in the studio or outdoors with his pochade box, he is drawn to the quiet beauty of forests, mountains, lakes, and coastal scenery, seeking to capture the atmosphere and emotion of each place.

Ross strives to create paintings that invite viewers to appreciate the beauty found in everyday moments – a brilliant blue sky, warm-coloured clouds, or the peaceful majesty of mountains on a rainy day. Each new painting is an opportunity to refine his craft, deepen his understanding of light and colour, and share his love of the natural world with others.

I find I am continuously moving towards improving my skills and techniques with every painting. My hope is to help people see the beauty that surrounds us, from a brilliant blue sky and to a warm-coloured cloud and the quiet splendour of our local mountains on a rainy day.

 - Ross