Lloyd Pretty

Artist Bio: Lloyd Pretty (1944-2020)

Lloyd Pretty was a well-known self-taught artist who started his artistic career later in life.

Lloyd was born in 1944 in Chapel Arm, Trinity Bay, Newfoundland. He showed artistic skill at an early age but took on various jobs throughout his adult life to earn a living. During time he spent at sea while seafaring, he took on painting at the time only as a hobby. In 1965 he moved to Montreal, signing on to oil tankers. He visited art galleries at every opportunity that the vessels docked, and in 197, he transferred to an oil refinery also based in Montreal. There he had his first small solo exhibition which sold out. In 1975, he relocated to Nova Scotia to work with Atomic Energy of Canada. He painted part- time and continued to exhibit his work with sell-out results. Five years later, he returned to Newfoundland, settling into Stephenville, where he settled for the remainder of his artistic career and life.

Pretty has published sketch books, seven limited edition prints and illustrations for Post Cereal and Gros Morne National Park. He also painted murals in various Newfoundland and Labrador communities, including Stephenville Crossing, as well as a commissioned mural by Parks Canada. He was active in the local artistic community and served on the boards of the Newfoundland and Labrador Folk Arts Society and the Newfoundland and Labrador Arts Council (now ArtsNL). 

Pretty’s work is found in private art collections both nationally and internationally.