Margot and Bruce Margot's Children in the mid 1990's Margot's Children in the late 1990's

Margot was born and raised in Saint John, New Brunswick. In 1984 she graduated from Mount Allison University with a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree. Following graduation she decided to pursue her art full time. Margot has gone on to exhibit her work around the world, participating in 72 International Exhibits, almost all of them Juried Competitions, in 12 different countries, including shows throughout Canada, throughout the United States, as well as shows in Greece, Germany, Bulgaria, India, Spain, Australia, Poland, England, Turkey and Mexico. Margot has won 12 awards for her artwork at international juried competitions.

Margot has also had 28 solo exhibitions, including shows in Ontario, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, and on the U.S. Virgin Islands. She also participates in numerous local, regional and provincial shows. Margot is working towards several upcoming solo exhibitions around Ontario, including shows in Englehart, Kapuskasing and Barrie.

In 1987 Margot married Bruce Splane, they have children. In 2001 the family was relocated to Timmins Ontario, where they currently reside. Margot works on her acrylic paintings in the winter and on her serigraph prints in the summer. Margot pulls all of her serigraphs by hand in her studio. While at University, Margot studied under David Silverberg, and Thaddeus Holownia. She has also received technical advice from artists Alex Colville, Ken Danby, Lindee Climo, and Fred Ross.

Margot’ a Paintings are featured in two international art books, ‘International Contemporary Artists Vol 1’, published by ICA Publishing, 2010, and Best of WorldWide Watermedia, Volume 1, Published by Kennedy Publishing, 2009. Margot has also been elected as a member of the Federation of Canadian Artists and the Society of Canadian Artists. Margot’s art is held in numerous Public and private collections around the world.

Artist's Statement

Creating art is not only something that I want to do, it is something I need to do. My inspiration evolves out of a variety of different sources. Lately I have been dealing with a lot of environmental concerns in my art, in particular using my creation “Pandora’s Trojan Horse” which represents all of the evils of the world, concealed in a wondrous package. This environmental devil horse looks radiant, as it prances around unconcerned about the chaos it leaves behind. On a lighter side, I am also dealing with things I see or feel in my every day life, a story from the news, exploring art from the past, a historic event, or even an amusing anecdote. Any of these sources can move me esthetically and germinates an idea. I call my style ‘Reality with a Twist’, because it is very realistic, but unlike anything you would ever see.

Once inspired I begin to research a topic, and try to figure out whether I can work this 'inspiration' into an artistic composition. The people and animals in my art are like characters in a drama, each has a role to play, but more significantly the final composition has to feel right. Through my art, I am able to share my paintings and serigraphs with an audience, and expose them to my slightly cynical view of the world, injected whenever possible with a sense of humor. The satisfaction I get from completing a work of art is a necessary part of who I am.

International Reviews

International Contemporary Artists Vol 1, a book published by ICA Publishing, based out of New York, NY, and Athens Greece, copyright 2010; Best of Worldwide Watermedia Artists Volume 1, a book published by Kennedy Publishing, Williamsburg, VA,USA, copyright 2009; USA. Free Art Tomorrow, New York, NY, USA, November 2008 issue; City Beat, Cincinnati’s News and Entertainment Weekly, in Cincinnati Ohio, USA, on January 3, 2007; and by the Cincinnati Enquirer in Cincinnati Ohio, USA, on July 21, 2006. Also in Greece by GNOMI TV; KYDON TV; and KRITI TV, as well as the Kyrix; the Haniotika Nea; and the Nea Kriti News Papers. The Greece reviews were all on December 3rd or 4th, 2002, following a press conference for a 3 person show at the Omma Center of Contemporary art in Greece.

National Coverage

SCA news Winter 2011; Geez Magazine: National Post – Arts Review. “Canadian one of Twenty Artists Worldwide Accepted into Exhibit” December 2nd 2007. Canada AM took an interview that Margot did locally and ran it on their show around November 7th 2008.

Provincial and Regional Reviews

Margot's art has been the subject of numerous regional articles and interviews, a partial list including such media and publications as: CARFAC Ontario, The Voice For Professional Artists, DISPATCH, Winter 2011; MCTV News for North Eastern Ontario; the MCTV Evening News Timmins; Persona TV Timmins; The Daily Press in Timmins; The Timmins Times; the Sudbury Star; C.B.C. Radio Sudbury; The Northern Times Kapuskasing; Fundy Cable Art Club Chronicles; C.H.S.J. T.V. Midday; C.B.C. Radio, Moncton; C.B.C. Radio, Saint John; The Daily Gleaner, Fredericton; The Times Transcript, Moncton; C.B.C. Radio Halifax; Maritime Sunday Morning; The Atlantic Advocate; The Evening Times Globe, Saint John; and The Chronicle Herald, Halifax.

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