Flowers have always been a source of joy and inspiration for Marney. After studying floral watercolours with artists Caren Heine, Elizabeth Kincaid and others, she went on to develop her own unique style: large, vibrant, back-lit close-ups that reveal the spiritual essence of the flowers she paints and beyond them, her own spiritual interconnectedness with the natural world. For Marney, watercolour is the perfect medium, with its spontaneous flowing quality and its clear, transparent colour that allows the light of the paper to glow through. In her recent work, she plays with the unique edges and textures that are available only in watercolour. But the predominant feature of Marney’s work remains the tangible presence of light.

Marney earned a BA in Honours Fine Arts and English and a PhD on the art and poetry of William Blake, both from UBC. In 2011, Marney was granted the highest signature status (SFCA) by the Federation of Canadian Artists (FCA). She is a past President of their Victoria Chapter, has won over 20 awards in various juried exhibitions and has served as juror for numerous shows in Victoria, Nanaimo and Vancouver. In 2015, Marney was elected into signature status with the Society of Canadian Artists (SCA) and won one of the top awards in their 47^th Open Juried Exhibition in Gainsborough Galleries in Calgary, Alberta. She went on to receive top awards in two subsequent SCA exhibitions. Also in 2015, she was thrilled to receive the coveted Best Work on Paper or Under Glass award in the acclaimed annual Sidney Fine Art Show. Marney has taught watercolour classes for over 15 years, previously through Camosun College and Artworld, and more recently through her own home. In 2014 she launched her own 8-week online course, which has become an international success.

Marney was recently featured (June 2019) on the cover of Watercolor Artist magazine, with an 8-page article inside. She has also been featured twice in International Artist and in the French magazine Pratique des Arts and the Australian magazine Creative Artist. She is also featured in eight books, including the internationally recognized Splash 17: The Best of Watercolor and Richeson 75 International Art Competition: Still Life and Florals, 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019. Previous books include Artists of British Columbia Volume 3. Marney has had four solo exhibitions, two with Winchester Galleries, a third at The Old School House Arts Centre (TOSH) in Qualicum Beach, BC, and most recently at Chapel Gallery, Victoria, April-May 2019. She also shows at the Art Gallery of Greater Victoria, Art Rentals; Butchart Gardens; and Federation Gallery in Vancouver.

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