Much of this delight happens via photography. Since first picking up a camera some forty years ago, Fireweed has seen this art form evolve from film and darkrooms to digital cameras and sophisticated editing software. She embraces technological change while remaining true to her roots as a nature photographer.

“My image-making in the realm of photography is no longer the product of chemical development in a darkroom, but digital technology, not to be confused with AI.

“Exploring and documenting the intricate details of Denman’s marine and terrestrial ecosystems is foundational to my creative process. Sometimes the works originate as sculptural forms composed of various raw materials. From brightly coloured seaweed to leaves decaying in a garden compost, island textures of all kinds work their way into my often highly interpretive compositions.

Fireweed is also accomplished in sculpture and graphic design, and combines art with activism in public demonstrations, installation works, and performance art. She has studied at various colleges and universities including the Banff School of Fine Arts and the Emily Carr College of Art & Design. Exhibitions have included solo shows in BC and Ontario as well as group shows in Jamaica, Japan, the USA, and Canada.

See Fireweed’s work on Denman: at her studio on select dates, or by appointment (see box, above left) and often at events such as the Studio Tour and Craft Fair.