Original art crafted with passion.

Board of Directors (2025-2026)

Alison Sivers (Chair)

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.

MICHELLE COWAN (Vice-Chair)

Born and raised in the south of England by honest working-class parents, the cultural arts were not a priority. Unable to read until she was ten, books became a life force for her and opened new worlds. To this day she has at least three books on the go all the time.
 
Michelle trained as a nurse just south of London, which gave her access to a myriad of museums and art galleries, where she fell in love with history and all types of art. 
 
Michelle came to Canada in 1987 with a suitcase and $400 in her pocket. She nannied for a couple of years, then met her husband. Married with two young children and a husband who traveled extensively, Michelle started to take an interest in arts and crafts, knitting, sewing, quilting and petite cross stitch eventually designing her own patterns and custom designs.
 
She attempted lessons in the art of drawing and painting but found she was mediocre at best. Then by chance she met a talented local potter who gave small group lessons. Michelle joined but was soon disheartened when because of severe arthritis in her joints she was unable to work the wheel. Not to be defeated the potter introduced her to hand building, and as they say the rest is history.
 
After ten years Michelle has developed her own style of hand building and under glazing, painting intricate designs that can take up to thirty hours to accomplish. Michelle understands that her knowledge of the nuances of art is very basic, but has an innate feeling towards it. If it gives her pleasure and “feels” right in her mind’s eye, then she is happy.

Muiriel MacLeod 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.

Brigitte Bere(Treasurer)

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.

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 has  always been a fine artist at heart. At age 13, he discovered his creative passion for drawing and oil painting. This newly awakened passion for visual expression fueled his creative exploration through his elementary, secondary and college years, eventually leading to a successful career as an accredited, professional graphic designer and owner of a Sudbury-based design agency established in 1987 which continues to operate three decades later. He is a long-standing Professional Member of the Association of Registered Graphic Designers (RGD Ontario) and holds an Honours Diploma from the Cambrian College Graphic Design Program (1981).

In 2009, Paul revived his passion for painting as a form of relaxation and to stir the inner artist in him once again. He paints in acrylic and oils and enjoys exploring various directions in subject matter. Paul has been involved with The Northern Artist Gallery since 2011.

Lee Prevost

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.

PENNY BOIS

Penny began sketching and painting in 2016 with no formal training, developing an interest with portraits while capturing the human spirit on canvas. Various mediums used are: charcoal, pastel, graphite, ink and oil . Her work is often displayed at the LaCloche Art Show and she is a member of The Portrait Society of Canada. She continues to create her own work as well as commissions.

Shirley Rose Cockburn

Born in the picturesque French River area, Shirley Rose Cockburn has always been deeply connected to the natural beauty that surrounds her, especially the rocky shores and the windswept pines. She channels her passion for nature into unique acrylic landscape art in her Sudbury studio. With 25 years of experience, Shirley specializes in creating simplistic yet stylized representations of nature. Her work reflects a distinct viewpoint, blending vibrant colors and bold forms to evoke the tranquility and majesty of the outdoors. Through art, Shirley aims to inspire others to appreciate and protect the environment that has so profoundly influenced her life and work.