b. 1995 Toronto, Canada.

Pursuing the alchemy of depth and ethereal beauty in the abstract, Canadian artist Willo Downie crafts artworks that resonate deeply with the human heart. Raised along the shores of Lake Ontario, Downie developed an early and deep respect for nature's equilibrium, profoundly influencing her practice today.

Raised by creatives and mentored in painting throughout childhood and adolescence, Downie’s artistic journey eventually led her to NSCAD and the University of King’s College, where she immersed herself in Art History, Journalism, and Philosophy during her undergraduate studies. Further honing her craftsmanship, she became a certified goldsmith, dedicating years to the jewelry industry before founding her fine jewelry brand, February Jewellery Inc., in 2020. It was during the transformative period of the pandemic, however, that Downie fully embraced her life-long vocation for painting, establishing a dedicated studio practice that has since become her primary focus. 

Her large-scale abstract paintings are a testament to her exploration of the interplay between colour, emotion, intuition and form. Drawing inspiration from both her natural surroundings and internal landscape, Downie's work offers viewers a moment of pause and introspection, inviting them to search out ataraxy.

Her pieces have been acquired for both personal and public permanent collections, including the esteemed Scotiabank Arena in Toronto. Beyond her artistic endeavours, she is deeply committed to greater causes, regularly donating original artworks or proceeds to organizations such as the Urban Native Youth Association, SickKids Foundation, Swim Drink Fish, and most recently, Brain Cancer Canada.

Continued learning has led her to expand her expertise in the art industry, recently completing professional courses in Art Business and Modern & Contemporary Art History at the Sotheby’s Institute of Art in London, UK. 

For Downie, art transcends just the corporeal; her art is a medium for healing, alchemy, and advocacy. Through her creations, she seeks to foster a deeper recognition of the world around us and inspire meaningful conversations about our shared human experience of both the dark, and the light.