In the hands of Dartmouth artist Susan Paterson, the textures of unfurling birch bark, long forest shadows, the clear light of an early morning pasture full of sheep are caught and held in suspended, elegant silence. Using copper plate etchings as her printmaking medium, Paterson captures the delicate tracery of waves and branches, the stark and surprisingly varied quality of snow. Working from a calm and meticulous distance, Paterson allows us to stumble quietly on a landscape we might otherwise miss, and to contemplate the dramatic posing as the ordinary. The same serenity can be found in the more intimate world of her floral studies and interiors, where she is equally adept at establishing scenes of quiet ambiance.

Susan Paterson studied under Ted Pulford and David Silverberg at Mount Allison University. She earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in 1980. She continued her studies in London , England at the Byam Shaw School of Art where she refined her painting and drawing skills. Following this, Susan studied lithography and etching at the Nova Scotia College of Art and Design in Halifax.

Susan's work can be found in the collections of public galleries as well as private and corporate collections. Some of these collections include; Art Gallery of Nova Scotia, University College of Cape Breton, Chateau Halifax, Bell Canada, Atlantic Lottery Corporation, Olympia and York Developments, Magna International, K. K. Sakai Co. of Tokyo, Bank of Detroit, and Husky Oil. Her awards include the Lincoln M. Alexander, Lieutenant Governor of Ontario, Award of Excellence, Toronto 1989; Elizabeth Greenshields's grant in 1981 and the Director's Award, Nova Scotia Art Winter Fair, 1978.