Original art crafted with passion.

Board of Directors (2022-2023)

Paddy O’Sullivan (Chair)

Paddy is the former Coordinator of the Cardiac Rehabilitation Program at Memorial Hospital in Sudbury, past Executive Director of the Heart Health Project of Sudbury. He has held volunteer positions as Education Chair and Directorship positions on the Ontario Heart and Stroke Foundation, he is former Chair of the Ontario Fitness Council. Paddy founded his own consulting company: Group Insights Consulting in 1997 and closed his practice in 2017. This was a facilitation, executive coaching and team building company. He has also taught at Cambrian College and Laurentian University. Paddy launched a second career as a visual artist in 2002. He has been a member of TNAG since 2009 and facilitated several planning sessions for TNAG in the past. He is a past board member of the Sudbury Arts Council, Chair of the Arts Junction Committee, Judge and committee member for the Sudbury Celebration of the Arts.

Lee Prevost (vice-Chair)

Lee is a retired cardiovascular perfusionist who worked at Memorial and Sudbury Regional Hospital for 31 years. He has been a sculptor since 2010, and studied at Florence Academy of Art in 2015. He is a full time artist and teacher with his own company Chez Prevost since 2015. He was been a volunteer member and artist at Artists On Elgin since 2016 with personal show at Northern Artists Gallery October 2018. Member of the board with TNAG since 2019 and judge for Sudbury Celebration of the Arts 2020.

Happily married with two wonderful children and three granddaughters (with another on the way) who we can’t wait to hug once Covid is under control.

Alison Sivers (Secretary)

Alison is a local stained glass and jewelry artist who has been a member of TNAG since 2012. Since joining Alison has been an active volunteer both in store at Artists on Elgin and on various committees including the Picture our Lakes Committee for several years running. Alison joined the board of directors for TNAG in 2017 and has fulfilled the position of Secretary since joining.

Diane Beland (Treasurer and Social Media Manager)

Diane has been a member of The Northern Artist Gallery and a volunteer since 2013. As a board member and Chair since 2018, she has played a leading role in the development and implementation of a new business plan for TNAG. Most of her career was in education, beginning as a teacher and gradually progressing to senior management positions in the college system. Diane was introduced to pottery making in the mid 70’s. In recent years she opened her studio, Earthy Elegance Pottery where she has been creating wheel thrown and hand-built functional stoneware pottery.

Muiriel McLeod Checkeris (Past Chair)

In 2004 Muiriel organized a group of artists to open “Artists On Elgin” under the Incorporated name “The Northern Artist Gallery” which became an important part of Sudbury’s downtown core. Muiriel chaired this organization for 15 years.

Before coming to Canada in 1965 with her family, she attended Teachers College in Aberdeen Scotland, was a part time student at the Art School of Glasgow and taught Elementary schools in Aberdeen and Glasgow. In Canada she attended Cambrian College, Department of Fine Arts from 1977 – 81 and began workingin her own pottery studio in 1981. Muiriel was a founding member of The Sudbury Basin Potters and has displayed her pottery with them as well as being part of a team of crafts people demonstrating workwith clay at Ontario Place Toronto and Science North in Sudbury.

Muiriel was a trustee with the Sudbury Board of Education and The Rainbow District School Board for 22 years serving as Chair for three years. She was also an active member with the Laurentian University Museum and Arts Centre. I on the Board, chairing it for one year.

In 2014 Muiriel was the recipient of the “Community Builders Award” in the Arts and in 2015 was awarded the “Honorary Fellowship” to Thorneloe University. Currently, Muiriel continues to work in her studio and is serving on the new Board of The Northern Artist Gallery.

Andy Blanchette

Andy has been a member and volunteer of The Northern Artist Gallery and Artists on Elgin since 2008. As an artist, he designs custom rugs for customers from across Canada, the USA, Ireland and Japan. Andy likes to capture his love of Canada and the North in his designs and enjoys working with people to create one of a kind rugs that are unique to them and their home. Andy joined the board of directors in 2020.

Paul Gomirato

Paul established PG Creative in 1987 and is responsible for business management, standards of excellence in creative development and production; account management and client relations; as well as new media services development and integration. He is a long-standing Professional Member of the Association of Registered Graphic Designers (RGD Ontario). He holds an Honours Diploma from the Cambrian College Graphic Design Program (1981).

Paul has always been a fine artist at heart. At age 13, he discovered his creative passion for drawing and oil painting which fueled him through his elementary, secondary and college years, eventually leading to a professional career as a graphic designer. Paul has been involved with The Northern Artist Gallery since 2011.

Brigitte Bere

Brigitte Bere is a Sudbury-based interdisciplinary visual artist, born in postwar West Germany. She moved to Canada in the late 70s and has resided in Sudbury ever since. She attended Cambrian College in Sudbury during the 80s, where she studied graphic design and sculpture. Over the years she has had the opportunity to expand her knowledge of the arts while taking workshops with Brian Atyeo and Linda Finn.

Originally from Leipzig, Germany, Brigitte moved to Sudbury in 1975. After pursuing studies in the area of Fine Arts she began working in the Communications Department at Laurentian University. Soon after, she became a small business owner, acquiring Nickel Printing Corporation, now known as Nickel Acme Printers Inc. As Vice-President of this company, Brigitte has experienced all of the challenges and triumphs that small owners are faced with and can directly relate to the majority of our Nickel Basin clients. She is also actively involved in the Northern Ontario Artist Association and the Sudbury Art Club.

Brigitte Bere has participated in a number of solo and group exhibitions over the past 20 years. She has regularly exhibited with her peers at the Sudbury Art Club (SAC), the Walden Art Club (WAC), and the travelling Northern Ontario Artist Association (NOAA) Art Show. Her work has been showcased throughout Ontario and has sold to various clients across North America and Europe.