Wendy Heagney-Bakewell (she/her) is a Canadian painter and illustrator whose nature-inspired work explores memory, nostalgia, transformation, and the limitless creativity of childhood. She is also interested in examining and depicting the connections between physical objects as expressed through fragments and collections.

Wendy’s colourful, expressive, and layered paintings use symbols and motifs to convey the transformational beauty of nature. Working from photos, childhood objects, and references from natural science and cultural history, she simultaneously imbues personal memories and meaning in her work and leaves it open for the viewer to interpret.

With acrylics and water-soluble oils on canvas, she creates expressive backgrounds using a free, uninhibited layering technique. This is followed by the use of smaller, more refined brushstrokes to add fine details and carefully curated nature-inspired motifs and symbols. 

Wendy’s digital illustration work is both precise and whimsical. Inspired by a lifelong appreciation of the visual storytelling found in children’s books, she creates a wide range of illustrations inspired by animals, food, objects, and nature.

In 2013, she wrote, illustrated, and self-published A-Z Organically, a food-inspired alphabet book for preschool-aged children. Highly skilled in lettering and fine detail work, she also illustrates realistic physical objects and interiors.

Wendy’s illustrations have been published on three book covers for adult readers: Walking the Skye Road to Skinidin, The Day Burt Lancaster Died, and the coffee table book After the Harvest: Eat Drink Connect. Her custom illustrations have also been featured on web based publications such as Good Food Revolution, highlighted on artist galleries for They Draw and Cook and Make Art That Sells. 

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Her most recent collection of paintings, The Butterfly Collection, features the butterfly, which is a recurring motif throughout her work. 

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Wendy holds an MFA in Studio Art from the University of Victoria in British Columbia and an Honours BFA in Art & Art History from the University of Toronto at Mississauga and Sheridan College. Artist mentors during this time include: John Armstrong, Robert Youds, Sandra Meigs and Lynda Gammon.  

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From 2007 to 2019, Wendy owned and operated Tiny Brushstrokes, a small business that specialized in custom artwork for children and adults. She created and sold custom and contemporary paintings, illustrations, and functional and decorative products. She collaborated with local small business to create custom products on a wholesale basis. In 2017, she launched and sold the Tiny Art Box, a subscription box that provided curated, immersive art activities and materials for children. 

Wendy is passionate about visual storytelling and making art accessible for all. She lives and works in Mississauga, Ontario, where she is an arts educator and administrator at a local not-for-profit arts organization.