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Charles Spratt (bn 1938) is a well-known Ottawa artist. His gift to draw was recognized by his teacher and confirmed by the applause from parents and students, when requested to draw Disney characters on the blackboard in their one-room schoolhouse.
In his youth, his time after school was spent with his dog in the fields and forests near his home, where he developed a life-long appreciation for the natural world. Following an engineering degree and two years working in the North, Charlie joined the family company, married, and became absorbed in business and raising a family. At the age of 40, under the mentorship of renowned Ottawa painter, Grant Tigner, Charlie experienced a calling to be an artist; the exact time and place are etched in his mind. When he turned 65, the family company was sold and he was free to pursue his dream. As his artistic skills progressed, his paintings found their way to galleries in Ottawa, Manotick, Markham, Halibuton, Calgary and Baie-St-Paul. QC. Charlie continues to paint most days and leads artist groups on regular plein air adventures each summer. “I believe that I am painting some of my best work these days. I will never stop looking for better ways to express my feelings in art: a philosophy that was part of every workshop I taught and remains an integral part of my painting to this day” - Charles Spratt |
Charlie is a signature member of the Ontario Society of Artists and the Canadian Society of Painters in Watercolour. He was co-founder of the long-running National Capital Fine Art Festival and the Manotick Dam Art juried show.
Thirty years ago, along with two artist-friends Charlie was instrumental in forming Plein Air Ensemble, a not-for-profit outdoor painting retreat that continued until 2023, offering twice-yearly painting trips for artists. Starting at Calabogie Peaks the group of up to 30 artists traveled as far as Quebec City, Charlevoix and Eastern Townships of Quebec. He is a Life-Member of the Manotick Art Association and volunteer co-ordinator of the MAA summer Plein Air Painting Program, for the past eight years. |
Major Solo Exhibitions
Teaching History ~ Collections ~ Major Influences
Solo and Major Exhibitions
2025 The 10 Collective, Mississippi Valley Textile Museum, Almonte, April 26 and 27th, 2025
2024 Ontario Society of Artists, Eastern Hub, Agnes Jameson Gallery, Minden, ON
Art in the Manor, A solo exhibition Nov. 21 to Jan 16, 2025, Fairviw Manor, Almonte General Hospital
2023 Ontario Society of Artists, Eastern Hub, Agnes Jameson Gallery, Minden, ON, Sept 7-Nov 25
2022-23 The Ten Collective, Mississippi Valley Textile Museum, Almonte, ON April 2022
and April 2023 - booked for April 2025
2021 -22 Amberwood Gallery, Amberwood Village Golf & Country Club Solo exhibition Oct 3 to Nov 11
2020 Ontario Society of Artists - Eastern Hub. Parrott Gallery, Belleville,
2019 Fairmont Manor, Almonte, ON, Apr. 9 - Jun. 11
2018 SPRING ARRIVAL AppleCrate Gallery. Manotick, ON
2017 EAST MEETS WEST Leon Frazer Associates, Toronto, ON
TWO VISIONS Applecrate Gallery, Manotick, ON
2016 Galerie Old Chelsea, QC
Leon Frazer Associates, Toronto, ON
2014 Galerie Old Chelsea, QC
2013 Galerie Old Chelsea, QC
2011 Charles Spratt Studio, Manotick, ON
2009 Tay River Gallery, Perth, ON
2008 Omega Gallery, Vancouver, BC
2007 Cross-Country Traveling Exhibition following 10-10-10 Symposium, Baie-Saint Paul. QC
Ethel Curry, Gallery, Haliburton, ON
2005 Kensington Gallery, Calgary, ALB
1998-05 Studio Gallery, Manotick, ON
1999 NORTHERN LEGACY - Algonquin Park Visitor Ctr, Algonquin Park, ON
1997 Manotick Showcase Gallery, ON
1996 Manotick Showcase Gallery, ON
1995 Manotick Showcase Gallery, ON
1990 The Harris Gallery, Ottawa, ON
1989 The Sherlowski Gallery, Markham, ON
1988 The Sherlowski Gallery, Markham, ON
1986 The Sherlowski Gallery, Markham, ON
1989 The Lawson Gallery, Perth, ON
1988 The Lawson Gallery, Perth, ON
1987 The Lawson Gallery, Perth, ON
1987 Gilbert & Coles, Toronto, ON
1986 Parkview Gallery, Nepean, ON
1985 Rothwell Gallery, Ottawa, ON
Teaching, Workshops and Juring History
2025 Selected lead artist for the ECOAA Art Retreat, Arnprior,, Oct 20-22
2018 Presentation and demonstration for the North Grenville Arts Guild
Composition, One-day workshop for Manotick Art Association members
2017 Seeing Colour One-day workshop for Manotick Art Association members
The East Central Ontario Art Association (ECOAA) in Algonquin Park
2015 Demonstration for Pine Island Sketchers, Pine Island, Florida
Two-day acrylic workshop, landscapes and still life, Ottawa
2013 Two-day workshop in acrylics for the Kanata Art Association, Ottawa
2013 Juring for the Manitoba Society of Arts 81st Annual
Open Juried Exhibition, Winnipeg, Manitoba
2012 Manotick art Association, Cornwall Art Association, one & two-day acrylic workshops
2012 East Central Ontario Art Association Demo at Bark Lake, ON
2012 Jurer FigureWorks 2012 Ottawa
2007 Lunenburg Art Gallery, Lunenburg, NS, 5-day workshop acrylics
2011, 2007. 2003, 1997 East Central Art Association, Geneva Park, ON, teaching and demos acrylics,
and watercolours
2002 Canadian Society of Painters in Watercolour (CSPWC ) Symposium, Halifax, NS, watercolours
2007, 2000 to 1996 St. Lawrence College, Brockville, ON, acrylics, watercolours
2003, 2002, 2001 Algonquin College, Almonte, ON, watercolours
2002, 2001, 2000, 1999 Loyalist college, Bridgewater, ON, 5-day watercolours
1999 Kenora Art Association, Kenora, ON, instructor 5-days watercolours
1998 Federation of Canadian Artists, Calgary & Edmonton, Alberta, watercolours
1998, 1997 Sir Sanford Fleming College, Haliburton, ON, instructor watercolours
1994,1993 Buchhorn School of Fine Art, Buckhorn, ON, instructor watercolours
1991, 1987 Couples Resort, formerly Beartrail Inn, Whitney, Algonquin Park, oils
2018 Presentation and demonstration for the North Grenville Arts Guild
Composition, One-day workshop for Manotick Art Association members
2017 Seeing Colour One-day workshop for Manotick Art Association members
The East Central Ontario Art Association (ECOAA) in Algonquin Park
2015 Demonstration for Pine Island Sketchers, Pine Island, Florida
Two-day acrylic workshop, landscapes and still life, Ottawa
2013 Two-day workshop in acrylics for the Kanata Art Association, Ottawa
2013 Juring for the Manitoba Society of Arts 81st Annual
Open Juried Exhibition, Winnipeg, Manitoba
2012 Manotick art Association, Cornwall Art Association, one & two-day acrylic workshops
2012 East Central Ontario Art Association Demo at Bark Lake, ON
2012 Jurer FigureWorks 2012 Ottawa
2007 Lunenburg Art Gallery, Lunenburg, NS, 5-day workshop acrylics
2011, 2007. 2003, 1997 East Central Art Association, Geneva Park, ON, teaching and demos acrylics,
and watercolours
2002 Canadian Society of Painters in Watercolour (CSPWC ) Symposium, Halifax, NS, watercolours
2007, 2000 to 1996 St. Lawrence College, Brockville, ON, acrylics, watercolours
2003, 2002, 2001 Algonquin College, Almonte, ON, watercolours
2002, 2001, 2000, 1999 Loyalist college, Bridgewater, ON, 5-day watercolours
1999 Kenora Art Association, Kenora, ON, instructor 5-days watercolours
1998 Federation of Canadian Artists, Calgary & Edmonton, Alberta, watercolours
1998, 1997 Sir Sanford Fleming College, Haliburton, ON, instructor watercolours
1994,1993 Buchhorn School of Fine Art, Buckhorn, ON, instructor watercolours
1991, 1987 Couples Resort, formerly Beartrail Inn, Whitney, Algonquin Park, oils
Corporate Collections
- Almonte General Hospital
- University of Florida, Randell Research Center, Pine Island, Florida
- Raymond Chabot Grant Thornton
- Canadian Society of Painters in Watercolour Diploma Collection
- Royal William Hotel, Quebec City
- Ruby Tuesday, Ottawa
- Crothers Ltd., Concord
- Quain Dioguardi, Ottawa
- W. Loates Associates, Kanata, ON
- Patrick McBain Associates, Ottawa
- Macdonald Affleck Cooligan, Ottawa
- The Clarkson Company, Ottawa
- Burke Robertson, Ottawa
- Woodlea Homes, Ottawa
- Carleton Lodge, Ottawa
Major Influences
- Grant Tigner, Ottawa
- Alex Powers, South Carolina
- Robert Genn, Vancouver
- Betty Lou Schlem, Gloucester, Mass.
- Charles Movalli, Gloucester, Mass
- Don Fraser, Poul Trane, Tweed. ON