James Bentley is a Canadian artist who lives and works on the small island L'Île-Perrot, just off Montreal, Québec. He studied and began his career as a freelance illustrator; a practice which gave him a great love for drawing. Anchored in figuration, he now works mainly with acrylic on canvas and acrylic & pastel on paper. Bentley's current body of work is focused on the ocean,portraits and figure studies. He is always on the search to paint in an inventive open manner.


james bentley
EDUCATION
John Abbott College - Fine Arts, Ste-Anne de Bellevue Quebec 1989-1990
Dawson College - Illustration & Design, Montreal Quebec 1991-1993
The Illustration Academy – Liberty Missouri1997-1998
Saidie Bronfman Centre - Drawing The Model, Montreal Quebec 2003-2004

SOLO EXHIBITIONS
Galerie d'art Michel BiguĂ©,Saint-Sauveur, Quebec – July 30 to June 15 2018  
Galerie de la Ville, Dollard des Ormeaux, Quebec – 2012 
Warren G. Flowers Gallery, Montreal - 2010
Campbell House Museum, Toronto - 2009
Campbell House Museum, Toronto - 2008
Chateau Vaudreuil, Quebec - 2001

GROUP EXHIBITIONS
Toronto Outdoor Art Exhibition, Toronto - 2021
Artport Gallery, Toronto - Fubruary 2 to April 22 2018
Peel Art Gallery Museum & Archives, Brampton, Ontario - Nov 2 to January 21 2018
The Kingston Prize, Firehall Theatre, Gananoque, Ontario - 2017
Toronto Outdoor Art Exhibition, Toronto - 2015
E.K. Voland Gallery, Montreal - 2014
Galerie McClure, Montreal - 2013
The Artist Project, Toronto - 2011
Sunnyside Beach Art Show - Toronto - 2011
Espace Ars Longa, Montreal Quebec - Le Salon Du Dessin - 2010
Toronto Outdoor Art Exhibitionw, Toronto - 2009
Stewart Hall Gallery, Pointe-Claire, Quebec – 2009
Toronto Outdoor Art Exhibition - 2008
Georges-Vanier Gallery, Montreal – 2007
Warren G. Flowers Gallery, Montreal - 2007
Society of Illustrators Museum, New York - 2004-1999
California State University - 2001
Pacific Design Center, Hollywood, California – 2001
Design Exchange, Toronto, Ontario - 1999-1998

CLIENTS
National Geographic,The Amazing Race Canada, Bill Maher American comedian,
Penguin Random House, Scholastic, HarperCollins Publishers, McGraw-Hill,
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, Tundra Books, Macmillan Books,Napoleon Books,
Orca Books, Pearson Education, McClelland & Stewart,Blue Chalk Media,
Angels On Earth Magazine, Pauline Books and Media, LDS Living Magazine
The National Film Board, Good Times Magazine, Affaires Plus, Nestle, E.D.Smith, 
Avon, Hagen, Molson, Air Canada, and Bombardier, CTV Television Network
and The Canadian Embassy.


ARTICLES & PUBLICATIONS
Creative Thresholds - 2017
The Plant - 2010
Pastel Journal - March/April 2003
Applied Arts - Cover Story, Nov/Dec 2000
CMYK Magazine - Fall 1998


AWARDS
Kingston Prize finalist (2017)
Commication Arts-Illustration Annual 44-45
Society of Illustrators (L.A.)- Joseph Morgan Henninger Award- Best of Show, Merit Award (2001)
Society of Illustrators (NY) - Three Merit Awards (1999-2004)
C.A.P.I.C. - One Silver, One Bronze, Two Merit Awards (1998-1999)
LUX  - Two Grand Prix, Two Finalist (2000-2002)
Applied Arts -  Award of Excellence (2002)
Pierrefonds Art Competition - 1st Place (1998)