Roy Henry Vickers celebrates 80 years
June 02nd, 2026
Roy Henry Vickers, Indigenous artist and storyteller, celebrates his 80th birthday this year with The Best of Roy Henry Vickers: 80 Selected Works (Harbour $24.95). This collection of eighty artworks are from the years 1974 to 2024 and include some of the artist’s most famous pieces. One of those images, Siwash Rock (1988) is his “most popular art piece,” Vickers says. He adds that it was inspired by E. Pauline Johnson’s classic, Legends of Vancouver first published by Vancouver’s George S. Forsyth & Co. in 1911 (more recently republished by Orca in 2018 and Douglas & McIntyre in 2024).
Within his painting of Siwash Rock, Vickers placed a portrait of the renowned Chief Dan George whom he describes as, “another great teacher of mine … One of the great lessons that Dan George taught me was that I should always speak from my heart ….”
From the publisher: “Vickers’ books, artworks, sculptures and prints are world-renowned for representing the natural beauty of British Columbia. His storied artistic career began when he was rejected from the RCMP for his colour blindness, and brought him through such milestones as building the Roy Henry Vickers Gallery in Tofino, BC, and being the artistic director for the construction of part of the Vancouver International Airport.”
In addition to his paintings, Vickers is a carver and printmaker. His works are influenced by his Tsimshian, Haida, Heiltsuk and British heritage. He is also the illustrator and co-author of Harbour Publishing’s children’s First West Coast Book series and Northwest Coast Legends series, the latter of which were all shortlisted for the Bill Duthie Booksellers’ Choice Award: Raven Brings the Light in 2014, Cloudwalker in 2015, Orca Chief in 2016 and Peace Dancer in 2017. His other books include Storyteller (2014), Voices from the Skeena (2019) and Ben the Sea Lion (2022), as well as the adult colouring book Inspired (2025).
Siwash Rock (1988) by Roy Henry Vickers
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