Arthur Checkley, 1874 - 1964

Arthur Checkley was born in England in 1874 and studied at the Birmingham School of Art. After emigrating to Canada in 1913, Checkley found success and a certain amount of fame as an artist in eastern and central Canada. 

It’s believed Checkley arrived in Western Canada around 1928. The following year he held a solo exhibition in Victoria. He became a significant member of the Vancouver Island Arts and Crafts Society and exhibited frequently in the Society's annual exhibitions between 1928 and 1940.

For several years, Checkley was the organizer of the art component of the annual Willows Fair in Oak Bay, Victoria, acting as the Society’s convenor. He famously gave Emily Carr a whole section to herself in 1934, the last year that she exhibited at the Fair.

He died in 1964 in Victoria, BC.

Selected Collections
Art Gallery of Greater Victoria, BC
BC Royal Museum Archives, Victoria, BC
Maltwood Gallery, University of Victoria, BC
The Feckless Collection, Vancouver, BC