Don Toney works

“Art is my chance to create and celebrate that which is beautiful, noble or important to the human spirit.”

It seems for as long as I can remember two things have dominated my thoughts, time and ambitions: horses and art. I was playing at both as a kid and I am still playing at them as an adult. (The more things change the more they stay the same.

I grew up on a cattle ranch in the foothills of Pincher Creek, Alberta. We rode horse before we could walk and grew up with an appreciation for the people, the creatures and the way of life that is our western heritage. These have been the inspiration of much of my art and life.

My mother tells me that I wanted to do something artistic from the moment they put a pencil in my hand. Art has been so much a part of my life that I can’t imagine life without it.

My career as a bronze artist began in 1979 when I was 25 years old. It was then that I learned the method of bronze casting and with a certain amount of trepidation and a healthy dose of ambition decided to make my living as a professional artist. With hard work, the support of my family, friends and art dealers I have been fortunate to have my work collected by people and corporations from many walks of life.

One of the great joys of my life is my daughter Sheena. She has become the subject of various sculptures. Sheena has from time to time requested or suggested that I do certain creatures or themes (commissions of the heart).

My family and I have 60 acres where we have a small equestrian facility. Our dogs and the presence of wildlife in the area help make for a rich and full life.

I feel very honoured to be a part of other people’s lives through art and sincerely hope that it brings them a measure of joy and happiness as they collect, receive, or give gifts of various sculptures from the 450 limited editions I have created over the course of my career.

While attending the University of Lethbridge for two years, I majored in fine arts, taking classes in ceramics, sculputre & art history.

In 1978 after leaving the University of Lethbridge, I spent a brief apprenticeship with a bronze sculptor, Leon Levesque, of Pincher Creek, Alberta. He taught me the fundamentals of working in bronze.

After this period in 1979, I set up my own foundry and have been employed solely on the merit of my art ever since.

Collections

Alberta Association of Chartered Accountants

Alberta Law Society

Bow Valley Industries

Fairmont Banff Springs Golf Club

First Ministers' Conference

Government of Alberta

The Alberta Energy Corporation

The Edmonton Journal

Commissions

The Calgary Stampede Wild Horse Trophy

Canadian Petroleum Association Presidential Award

Lethbridge Country Club Tournament Champion Award

Calgary Stampede World Championship Blacksmith Competition Trophy

Calgary Stampede Chuckwagon Aggregate

SunLife Skate Canada

Saskatchewan Oilman of the Year Award

North American Endurance Rider Award

Region 17 All Arabian Horse Show Perpetual Trophy

Canadian Western Bank Collection and Awards

Athol Murray College of Notre Dame Alumni Award

Alberta Art Foundation Collection

Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation Purchase

Alberta Hunter Horse Society Awards

Nature Conservancy of Canada

Fort McLeod Highwood Auction Trophies

Hungarian Cultural Society, Life Sized Falcon, Lethbridge, AB

2010 "So Long, Charley", life-size bronze of Seabiscuit and jockey George Woolf, installed at the Remington Carriage Museum, Cardston, AB