WELCOME TO A. W. DAVEY

It is not known why the Davey family immigrated to Canada. However, it is known that they experienced a setback from the 1920’s urban lifestyle in England with such conveniences as indoor plumbing. In Canada outside the cities life was more difficult, particularly during the cold winters. The prairie countryside especially looked so bare. By 1942 Alf’s mother and three siblings had left Saskatchewan permanently for the Vancouver, British Columbia area. But something about this province appealed to Alf. The rural way of life was part of that something. He remained a resident of Saskatchewan all his life.

In 1926 when Alf was introduced to railway life then farm life, he found both fascinating. So much that he later said, “At this time I made some of my first pencil sketches of life in early Saskatchewan. Life was arduous but interesting. Many of these sketches proved valuable in later years as reference material for documentary paintings.” About this time Alf joined the Saskatoon Sketch Club and participated in local art exhibitions. After starting a full-time job as a gardener for the University of Saskatchewan in 1928 staff at the university gradually became aware of his talent. As a result, departments approached him to prepare illustrations for various publications. From then on freelance art work supplemented his salary.

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By 1932 Alf Davey lived with his younger brother, Frank in a converted cook shack trailer also used as an art studio. One day university staff out for a walk on campus grounds encountered Alf sketching a scene during his lunch hour. They were impressed and suggested he pursue a career in art. In 1934 he enrolled with the Winnipeg School of Art. The enrollment fee was $12.00. Bear in mind that if school teachers were being paid $100.00 a month at that time, Alf’s monthly income was less. During the late 1930s Alf continued to accumulate experience through freelance artwork and participation in the Saskatoon art scene. In 1934-35 he served as president of the Saskatoon Art Students’ Association.

After moving to Regina in 1942 Alf immediately involved himself with the local fine art scene, thereby enhancing his experience. In addition to art instruction some of his accomplishments are:

• From 1945 to 1947 he was the founding president of the Federation of Canadian Artists, Regina Branch.

• In 1948 he chaired the Provincial Committee of the Federation of Canadian Artists. In this role he nurtured the growth of Saskatchewan fine art by helping found the Western Canadian Art Circuit through which paintings by distinguished international artists were shown throughout western Canada. Before formation of the circuit many traveling shows were too expensive for western Canadian art galleries and exhibitions. His own work often won awards in these shows. The National Federation disbanded in 1949 and the local branch was replaced by the Regina Federation of Artists. Alf was elected founding president.

• On March 3, 1949 he was appointed to a committee of five by the mayor of Regina to study the curtailment of art activity at Regina College with the intention of erecting a college of art with an art gallery in accordance with the bequest of the late Norman Mackenzie. Norman’s donation of his valuable paintings and the committee’s work led to the formation of the Norman Mackenzie Art Gallery.

• Throughout the 1950s he organized and managed the yearly fine art show at the Regina Exhibition.

• In 1961 Alf assembled and directed the first exhibition of Saskatchewan civil servant’s Art. It became an annual event for many years. The object was to encourage, develop and exhibit the artistic talent of members of the Saskatchewan Government Employees’ Association of Artists; and

• In 1980 he became a member of the Rosemont Art Gallery Society.