Claire Victoria Watson

Illustrator, Artist, Graphic Designer, Mom, Outdoor Enthusiast and Coffee Snob

Bio

Claire Victoria Watson is an artist, illustrator, and designer based in Victoria, BC. Her journey as a commercial artist began serendipitously in the year 2000 when a visit to a local Italian bakery inquiring about their lack of menu boards landed Claire her first commission and set the stage for a popular sign trend and her career as a chalk sign artist. After creating and exporting over 1000 custom works across the globe, she hung up her ‘chalk’, sold the business, and relocated from Gabriola Island to the wilder west coast of Tofino BC. Influenced by the immense beauty of the coast, and the need to transition to ‘small space’ work due to living on a sailboat at the time, she started Claire Victoria Art + Illustration (formerly under Claire Watson Art), a freelance design studio specializing in west coast inspired illustration, typography and graphic design for editorial, lifestyle, food, and apparel brands.

Claire’s work has attracted many high-profile clients and organizations, including Patagonia, HSBC, Buff, BC Ferries, Surf Canada, Surfrider Foundation, and Tourism Vancouver Island. She has also designed four coins for the Royal Canadian Mint, including the circulation loonie honouring Elsie MacGill. Now back in Victoria, BC, Claire continues to expand her creative repertoire, recently adding children’s book illustrator to her list of accomplishments.

When she's not working with clients, Claire dedicates time to personal projects. She is currently designing a west coast-themed deck of playing cards and developing a colouring book featuring a collection of her donated illustrations to Tofino Time magazine. She also leads a very active lifestyle and spends most of her time outdoors in the elements on her bike, running or hiking.

You can explore more of Claire’s work on Instagram at @clairevictoria.art. She also participates in several Vancouver Island markets and festivals and wholesales her art to local shops and galleries. Sign up for her newsletter to stay updated on her latest creations.

Artist Statement

Being raised on the coast of Vancouver Island, I spent most of my time outdoors whether it be on the ocean or in the forests. I have had many opportunities to travel and explore by sea much of the coastline of North America mostly by sail in which I developed a deep connection and admiration for the diversity of this coast. The rugged shores, ocean swells, hardy forest fringes, mountain vistas, starry nights, dynamic daily changes in light and weather, secluded beaches… a rugged, yet fragile landscape makes up the environment I call home.

My mediums of choice are pen & ink, watercolour, acrylic and digital. I am recognized for my stylized fine line work, organic colour palette, and capturing the unique personality of the west coast in the wildlife, ocean and landscapes. Whether it be on paper, canvas, apparel, surfboards or walls, I aspire to bring the outdoors home as I believe time in nature soothes the soul and what better way to help connect people with their environment than through art.