Rita May was born in Nelson, Lancashire, England, and immigrated to Canada with her parents and siblings in 1953. She lived in Burnaby, BC until 1975, when she, and her husband, Ron, moved to Bathurst, N.B.
She began her artistic career in 2000; has taken many courses over the years, including several “Painting Like the Masters” workshops with Adrienne Elfner-Hazen in 2014-2015. She continues to develop her artistic skills, especially in her preferred mediums–acrylic,oil & watercolor. Her favorite subjects are flowers(from her garden), landscapes and old buildings(inspired by her surroundings) and portraits. She does commissions on request.
She is part of a 5 member mural team; and also helped create, and assist in an outreach program that takes arts to seniors/children who are disadvantaged either by mobility, financially or otherwise.
She was a juried participant in: the Symposium BDC 2015; the (2017-18) Canada 150 Art Acquisitions Program for NB Schools – Five paintings were submitted, accepted & sold to : one(1) each at Port Elgin, Chipman, Clair(Madawaska) Schools; two(2)Terry Fox Elementary, Bathurst.
Rita May exhibits at the Bay Breeze Art Gallery in Bathurst, the Miramichi, and the Galerie Restigouche Gallery in Campbellton, N.B. She is passionate about the arts. In 2011, she was instrumental in the forming of a lasting partnership with the Miramichi Art Core under the name of “Art Tells Stories”. Rita May has been President of the Bathurst Art Society since 2006.
