Doug Stephens

1918-1972

Known as Calgary's original Cowboy Artist.

He studied art in England after serving his country until 1945 as a Flying Officer in the RCAF and graduated as an illustrator from the famous Art Centre School in Los Angeles, having studied for four years under such notables as Norman Rockwell. 

In his years as a commercial art director, he illustrated numerous international magazine covers and books and was regarded by art experts as the "first Canadian artist to put Western bronzes into the realm of critical art".  Of the many international honours, Doug was especially proud to be the first Canadian artist made an associate member of the Cowboy Artists of America and a lifetime member of the Rodeo Historical Society of Oklahoma City. 

The experiences of his life in an earlier time, as a youth homesteading with a team and covered wagon, riding to school on a horse, working as a ranch hand and a rodeo competitor - these became the source of the stories he told in paintings and sculpture.  He painted and sculptured with meticulous detail the find vanishing men and animals of the early West he knew so well. 

Doug Stephens himself was unknowingly a reflection of his art - strong, gentle, courageous, kind and admired by all who knew him.  Together with his daughter and her husband, Don Begg, he established Canada's first fine art bronze foundry, Studio West.  As a final tribute, for 10 years the Calgary Stampede Dollar was struck with a relief of a Stephens sculpture.

INQUIRIES; Shirley Stephens Begg, Box 550 Cochrane Alberta T0L 0W0

Studio West Bronze Foundry and Art Gallery  205- 2nd Ave East Cochrane

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