Robert Francis Michael McInnis was born in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1942. After receiving a Diploma in Fine and Applied Arts in 1961 he spent five years in the Royal Canadian Air Force as a photographer. He is a recipient of Fellowship from The Royal Canadian Geographical Society College of Fellows (FRCGS).
“It was the nearest to making pictures I could do and still earn a living in those days”. Thus began a career of traveling and painting. McInnis has lived and painted in British Columbia, Alberta, Ontario, and Quebec. These experiences have provided McInnis an opportunity to get to know the history, the people, the terrain, and the art scene of most of Canada. During his stay in Calgary in the late 1970’s he was commissioned to do portraits of the leaders of the Progressive Conservative Party which currently hang in the National Headquarters building in Ottawa. In 2006 he relocated to the city of Winnipeg. He finds inspiration in the city’s locations and landscapes and has completed a series of paintings of views from his studio window.
Saint John Vocational School: Fine & Applied Arts Diploma
PUBLICATIONS:
Drawings appear in two books:
1) "Toronto We Love You, The Brunswick House"
2) "The Renegades Lament"
In 1974 he was commissioned by Joyce Wieland to do 50 paintings for her feature movie "The Far Shore"
Limited edition serigraphs included in book with text by Pierre Burton,
"Steel and Steam", 1985
"Treasured Moments", , Gallery Publication, 1997
“A is Albert, 26 Paintings,” with text by Ken Tingley
2022 - 80-60-40, Roberts Gallery, Toronto
2016 - Front Gallery, Edmonton
2011 - Cityscapes, Roberts Gallery, Toronto
2011 - Art Chicago, ADAC/Roberts Gallery
2008 - Coast to Coast, Celebration of Canadian landscape painting, Roberts Gallery, Toronto
2006 - Mayberry Fine Art Gallery
1999 - Leighton Centre, Calgary
1989, '92, '94 - Canadian Art Galleries, Calgary
1993 - Gallery Woltjen, Edmonton
1991 - Rodman Hall Art Centre, St. Catharines
1998 - Assiniboia Gallery, Regina
1988, 1989 - Rimouski
1985, 1988 Edmonton Art Gallery, Edmonton
1989, '91, '93, '07 - Roberts Gallery, Toronto
1979, '80, '87, '99, 2016 - Master’s Gallery
1985, 1988 - Walter Klinkhoff Gallery
1985, '87, '89, '91, '97, '99 - Wallack Galleries
1987, 1988 - West End Gallery
1988 - Galerie Zanettin, Quebec City
1986 - Kinsman Robinson Galleries
1980 - Muttart Gallery
1980 - Prince Arthur Gallery
1978 - Clouds 'n Water Gallery
2022 - Artists Choice, Roberts Gallery, Toronto
2022 - Figurative Pop Up Show, Roberts Gallery, Toronto
1989 - present, Annual Artists Choice Exhibition, Roberts Gallery, Toronto
Public:
Alberta Foundation for the Arts
Beaverbrook Art Gallery, Frederiction, NB, 3 figurative works
Bibliothèque nationale du Québec
Canadiana Fund, Residences of The Governor General
Edmonton Art Gallery
Glenbow Museum, Alberta
Government House, Alberta
Hart House, University of Toronto
MacKenzie Gallery, Saskatchewan
Medicine Hat Art Gallery, Alberta
Moncton Museum, New Brunswick
National Archives of Canada, Ottawa
New Brunswick Museum, Saint John, 40 paintings representing 50 years of RFM art
Nickel Art Museum, U of C, Alberta
Office of the Chief of Justice of Canada, Ottawa
Parliamentary Restaurant, Ottawa
Provincial Museum of Alberta, Edmonton
P.C. Headquarters, Ottawa
Rideau Club, Ontario
Red Deer and District Museum
Red Deer College Collection, Alberta
Rodman Hall, St. Catharines
Royal Alberta Museum, Alberta
University of Lethbridge, Alberta, 15 paintings admitted through private donation
Corporate:
Air Canada
Alberta Energy Corporation
Allarco Group
Argus Corporation
Alberta Government Telephones
Bank of Montreal
Brascan Corporation
Canadian Perspectives Ltd.
Canadian Utilities
Chevron Standard
CSL Ltd. (Canadian Steamship Lines)
Dominion Securities Ames Ltd.
Esso Resources
Gulf Canada
MediCentres
Ontario College of Physicians & Surgeons
Royal Bank of Canada
Rothmans
Rideau Club, Ottawa
Shell Resources
Trizec Corporation
Union Bank of Switzerland
Roberts Gallery, Toronto
Mayberry Fine Art, Winnipeg
Masters Gallery, Calgary
Wallack Gallery, Ottawa
Front Gallery, Edmonton