Ellen Lorne was born in Vermilion, Alberta. Her family moved to the Shepard area when she was very young, then into Calgary when she started school. She attended Western Canada High School and Calgary Business College.
After marrying and having three children, Ellen studied at the Alberta College of Art for three years in the evenings. When her children were all in school, she joined the workforce and became a legal assistant in real estate law, working for Lorne W. Scott, Q.C. for 25 years.
She did not return to painting until she retired in 1999. Since then, she has studied with many well-known local and national artists. She paints mainly in oil on canvas or board, with some work in watercolour and other media, often drawing from archival photographs, family and friend photographs, and photos taken while attending places and events. She also loves painting old Calgary street scenes.
Her work has been exhibited and sold through juried shows and art events, including the Western Art Show at the Calgary Stampede, Alberta Community Art Clubs Association shows, the Federation of Canadian Artists in Calgary, and the Leighton Art Centre, as well as private shows. In 2012, Ellen was honoured to have two paintings of the 1912 Calgary Stampede Parade juried into the 100-year section of the Western Art Show.
Ellen is a member of the Calgary Artists Society, Leighton Art Centre, Federation of Canadian Artists, and the Chestermere Fine Art Guild, where she is a founding member. The Chestermere Fine Art Guild has been active since 2002, and Ellen continues to exhibit with the Guild regularly.
Ellen is not currently taking formal commissions, but may be open to select requests. Questions about originals, prints, shipping, or possible future work should go through Ellen directly.