Murray Devlin
Encyclopedia
Murray Devlin was a painter who blended images from the natural world with text to create works that spoke of an individual's experiences in discovering his spiritual core. He was born in Vancouver
, British Columbia
, Canada
and grew up as an only child frequently combing the beaches of Kitsilano
.
As a young man, he worked in a variety of manual jobs, from driving trucks (the notorious "Honey Wagons") and paving of Kingsway in Burnaby, British Columbia
, to repairing airplanes in the Arctic
, where he lost the use of his right eye after an accident repairing an engine.
In 1955, Murray graduated with honours from The Vancouver School of Art, (now the Emily Carr University of Art and Design), winning the 1955 Emily Carr Memorial Award to study in Europe for one year. During that time he was influenced by the stained glass windows of Chartes Cathedral and the paintings of the Dutch masters housed in the Louvre. He returned to Vancouver to begin his career in art.
He became the Art Director for CBC Television
and was responsible for such shows as the Rene Simard Show, the Beachcombers
and Ritter's Cove
.
He was married four times and gathered 11 children, either as offspring, adopted or through marriage. He showed no favourtism and to each child became both a loving father and dear friend.
He discovered the Bahá'í Faith
in January 1956 in London
, England
.
He and his wife Gina and two sons, lived on the island of Eluthera, Bahamas as Baha'i pioneers
for two years from 1979-1982. They eventually retired in Powell River, British Columbia
where he began his full time art career and painted - some of his art has been displayed in a permanent collection as well as posthumous showings.
Murray participated in the Powell River art community where he put on shows, assisted in creating sets for community plays, judged up and coming young artists and sang in the local choir. He taught drawing and painting at Malaspina Community College.
He was diagnosed with high cholesterol. He died of lung cancer
and emphysema
at the age of 77. He died at his home with his wife Gina and friends and family at his bedside.
Vancouver
Vancouver is a coastal seaport city on the mainland of British Columbia, Canada. It is the hub of Greater Vancouver, which, with over 2.3 million residents, is the third most populous metropolitan area in the country,...
, British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
and grew up as an only child frequently combing the beaches of Kitsilano
Kitsilano
Kitsilano is an upmarket neighbourhood on the West Side of the city of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.Known colloquially as "Kits", this neighborhood is home to many yuppies, young families and students as well as yoga studios, organic markets, cafes and Vancouver's Greektown. The primary...
.
As a young man, he worked in a variety of manual jobs, from driving trucks (the notorious "Honey Wagons") and paving of Kingsway in Burnaby, British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
, to repairing airplanes in the Arctic
Arctic
The Arctic is a region located at the northern-most part of the Earth. The Arctic consists of the Arctic Ocean and parts of Canada, Russia, Greenland, the United States, Norway, Sweden, Finland, and Iceland. The Arctic region consists of a vast, ice-covered ocean, surrounded by treeless permafrost...
, where he lost the use of his right eye after an accident repairing an engine.
In 1955, Murray graduated with honours from The Vancouver School of Art, (now the Emily Carr University of Art and Design), winning the 1955 Emily Carr Memorial Award to study in Europe for one year. During that time he was influenced by the stained glass windows of Chartes Cathedral and the paintings of the Dutch masters housed in the Louvre. He returned to Vancouver to begin his career in art.
He became the Art Director for CBC Television
CBC Television
CBC Television is a Canadian television network owned by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, the national public broadcaster.Although the CBC is supported by public funding, the television network supplements this funding with commercial advertising revenue, in contrast to CBC Radio which are...
and was responsible for such shows as the Rene Simard Show, the Beachcombers
The Beachcombers
The Beachcombers is a Canadian comedy-drama television series that ran from October 1, 1972 to December 12, 1990 and is the longest-running dramatic series ever made for English-language Canadian television...
and Ritter's Cove
Ritter's Cove
Ritter's Cove is an adventure television series which aired on CBC Television from 1980 to 1981, co-produced by Canadian, West German and British companies.-Premise:...
.
He was married four times and gathered 11 children, either as offspring, adopted or through marriage. He showed no favourtism and to each child became both a loving father and dear friend.
He discovered the Bahá'í Faith
Bahá'í Faith
The Bahá'í Faith is a monotheistic religion founded by Bahá'u'lláh in 19th-century Persia, emphasizing the spiritual unity of all humankind. There are an estimated five to six million Bahá'ís around the world in more than 200 countries and territories....
in January 1956 in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
.
He and his wife Gina and two sons, lived on the island of Eluthera, Bahamas as Baha'i pioneers
Pioneering (Bahá'í)
A pioneer is a volunteer Bahá'í who leaves his or her home to journey to another place for the purpose of teaching the Bahá'í Faith. The act of so moving is termed pioneering. Bahá'ís refrain from using the term "missionary"...
for two years from 1979-1982. They eventually retired in Powell River, British Columbia
Powell River, British Columbia
Powell River is a city on the northern Sunshine Coast of southwestern British Columbia, Canada. Most of its population lives near the eastern shores of Malaspina Strait, that part of the larger Georgia Strait between Texada Island and the Mainland...
where he began his full time art career and painted - some of his art has been displayed in a permanent collection as well as posthumous showings.
Murray participated in the Powell River art community where he put on shows, assisted in creating sets for community plays, judged up and coming young artists and sang in the local choir. He taught drawing and painting at Malaspina Community College.
He was diagnosed with high cholesterol. He died of lung cancer
Lung cancer
Lung cancer is a disease characterized by uncontrolled cell growth in tissues of the lung. If left untreated, this growth can spread beyond the lung in a process called metastasis into nearby tissue and, eventually, into other parts of the body. Most cancers that start in lung, known as primary...
and emphysema
Emphysema
Emphysema is a long-term, progressive disease of the lungs that primarily causes shortness of breath. In people with emphysema, the tissues necessary to support the physical shape and function of the lungs are destroyed. It is included in a group of diseases called chronic obstructive pulmonary...
at the age of 77. He died at his home with his wife Gina and friends and family at his bedside.