Sue Thomas

Meet Sue Thomas – Oil Painter & Ceramic Artist

Inspired by the vibrant beauty of the West Coast, Sue Thomas is a Port Alberni-based artist specializing in expressive oil painting and handcrafted pottery. Her artistic journey began in 2004 with a curiosity for watercolour and acrylics, but she quickly fell in love with oil painting for its rich textures, dynamic blending properties, and vast colour possibilities.

Relocating to the Alberni Valley in 2015, Sue found creative inspiration in the natural landscapes, coastal light, and thriving local art community. She has since become an active member of the Wednesday Painters Group, and other local art initiatives, further shaping her unique visual language.

Sue’s painting style is an evolving blend of Realism and Impressionism, characterized by bold compositional shapes, expressive brushwork, and a thoughtful use of light, shadow, and non-traditional colour. She often works on multiple canvases simultaneously, aiming for a looser, more intuitive process that captures not just the subject, but the emotion behind it. Her signature use of diminishing light helps create visual emphasis and atmosphere, inviting viewers into a moment of quiet reflection.

In addition to painting, Sue is also a skilled ceramic artist, creating one-of-a-kind pottery pieces that reflect her connection to the textures and rhythms of the natural world.

Whether on canvas or in clay, Sue Thomas’ work captures the soul of Vancouver Island’s landscape—earthy, emotive, and endlessly evolving.