Artists travel across the globe to enjoy the beauteous and bounteous Cowichan Valley. So much so, that many decide to make it their home.

Kristine (Kris) Paton, however, is a locally grown artist, born and raised in the Cowichan Valley. After moving to Victoria in 1981, Kris retreated to Shawnigan Lake in 1987. Painting full-time professionally since 1997, her paintings have been shipped as far-a-field as Switzerland, London, Australia and Japan and exhibited in galleries in Shawnigan, Victoria, Kelowna, White Rock and Whistler. Abstract expressionism (exhibiting at Sopa Fine Arts in Kelowna) held her attention until recently when "the call" to revisit both impressionism and realism, from feathery soft brush strokes to near photo reality, became to strong to ignore. Closer to her roots, the representational works show Paton's command of her material and great use of color.

In June, Kris moved to a quaint little cottage on Cowichan Bay Farm; a converted root house cum studio is where she now spends most of her days painting. Ironically, a fashioned metal pig silhouette has hung for years on one exterior wall of the "sow's ear to a silk purse" studio. More than content to be a free range artist, Kris describes herself as a tortoise in a world full of hares.

"Inspiration is but a glance, touch, smell or sound away. I paint at my own speed and I paint what comes". This she will admit does make a curator's job more difficult. However, in defense of her 'one woman group show' approach, Kris points out that Milton Avery resorted to multiple stylistic approaches. And she quotes Hans Hofmann, who when advised to choose a particular style and stick with it, countered: 'I am many people. I give to you at least three; they are all me.'