Duncan printmaking exhibit honours work of the late Edie Miller
Published 5:00 pm Wednesday, December 17, 2025
It has been said that printmaking is drawing, just with different tools.
Excellent Frameworks in Duncan is hosting the free ‘Edie Miller’ exhibit, a collection of more than 200 prints available for purchase. They will be on display until Jan. 31. Family and friends of Miller, who died earlier this year, approached the gallery to see about sharing her works with collectors in the Cowichan Valley. Miller, who was born and raised in Lynn Valley, North Vancouver in 1931 first moved to the island with her family in 1964, then a short six years later connected with fellow print-makers Beverlee McLeod, Jim Malo, and Lynn Starter who came together for their first exhibition in 1989 at the Old School House Gallery in Qualicum. Its success prompted the four artists to form Printmakers Only Group, (POG), which is still going strong after 34 years.
“It is with mixed feelings that we present this show on behalf of Edie’s family,” said Excellent Frameworks owner Suzan Kostiuck. “It’s an honour to showcase her work, and we miss her contributions to the artistic community here in Duncan…. She was a creative soul who was prolific and shared her humor and skills within her works.”
Miller’s art experience started at the early age of six with Saturday morning classes at the Vancouver School of Art. Upon graduating high school she attended the Vancouver School of Art, now known as the Emily Carr University of Art, which is where her love of printmaking first began. There she had her first access to an etching press. After completing the four-year program with honours she worked as the head graphic designer for the print department of the University of British Columbia during the first seven years of her marriage.
Miller, who eventually established herself as a full-time artist, became recognized for her talent in the graphic media including etching, dry-point, woodcut and serigraph. He favourite subject matter included all birds and animals especially chickens and cats. He friend and fellow print maker Lynn Starter said Miller was an old school artist who did not depend on reference photos as her guide, but rather on-location sketching.
“Her sketch books are full of delightful sketches of barnyards full of chickens and sheep and West Coast landscapes and her sense of humour appears in the title of many of her prints,” said Starter. “Her artwork shows a strong sense of design and a highly personal sense of aesthetics, and her stylized watercolours are beautiful in their simplicity and design.”
Starter said that life as an artist is a blend of creative expression, personal growth, and hard work, characterized by passion, dedication and the constant refinement of skills. The skills of Miller’s work can be found in many homes across Canada, and for several years were showcased in galleries in both B.C. and Alberta.
“She will be missed by many but through her art she left behind a part of herself that will never fade away,” said Starter.
“We always hope that people walk away feeling inspired by artworks here at the gallery,” said Kostiuck. “With Edie’s show, we hope that they also get a perspective on how Edie saw the world around her. Her works are so varied and inspired by a vast array of things — from a flower on a rug, to a view from Koksilah Ridge, she truly translated the everyday into works of art.”
