2026 Manning Park Retreat Instructors

Brent brings the power that made him one of Canada’s best illustrators into the pursuit of his personal vision. The energy, intensity and poetry of both his figurative and landscape works are a result of his passion for direct study from life. This was a trademark discipline as an illustrator and is now in his plein air and studio work. The immediate, raw connection with his subject is the cornerstone of his work. He hangs in select galleries along the west coast and takes on private commissions painting large installations and canvases for both private homes and public buildings. When he’s not traveling, you will find him in his studio on Vancouver Island, painting on the ocean shore of the northwest…his home. 

From an early age Jack was attracted to various painting media, but the immediate and direct qualities of drawing commanded his greatest attention from that time to the present. However, the undeniable tradition of impressionist and realist painters of the Canadian landscape has exerted the greatest influence in Jack's painting. Having been brought up in a province where the built environment is usually dominated by the overwhelming beauty of its natural setting, Jack tends to direct his gaze to the literal edges of human activity - where man and Nature overlap, but Nature predominates. As such, the appearance and influence of man’s presence usually assumes a subtle role in the subject matter of his paintings. Recurring themes in his art are soft light and summoning shapes, which hint of a story untold or a destination not fully revealed. Jack sees his role as an artist not unlike that of a storyteller.  He invites the viewer to pause, look more closely into lengthening afternoon shadows or follow a beckoning, overgrown path.

Perry Haddock is a West Coast artist celebrated for his bold acrylic landscapes and energetic brushwork. A senior signature member of the Federation of Canadian Artists (SFCA), he retired from a career in education  and began to pursue painting full-time—and hasn’t looked back in over 25 years.

From B.C.’s rugged coastline to far-flung destinations, Perry’s vivid colours and expressive style capture the spirit of place. His work fuels popular workshops and fills private collections across Canada, the U.S., Europe, China, and Australia.

Based in Surrey, B.C., Perry paints from his home studio and continues to explore the world, always gathering inspiration for the next canvas.