William (Bill) West, 1921-2007

Bill West was an artist, educator, and designer. As an art teacher at various secondary schools in Victoria he influenced many budding artists including Eric Metcalfe and Carole Sabiston. 

Bill West was born in New Westminster, BC. He attended the Duke of Connaught High School and had just started studies at the University of British Columbia when Word War II broke out and West was required to join  the Canadian Army. He served with the Lord Strathcona's Horse (Royal Canadians) in the Italian Campaign. Ironically, his experience fostered a deep and abiding love of Italy. 

After the completion of his service, West returned to Vancouver and  studied at the Vancouver College of Art ( now Emily Carr Institute of Art and Design). After graduation, he spent many years teaching art at Central Junior High School, the Vancouver School of Art, and Oak Bay High School in Victoria. 

West  finally made the move to University teaching teaching briefly at Stanford University before taking a position at the University of Victoria in 1960. He spent the next twenty years at UVic, earning a permanent faculty position in 1973 as head design instructor of the Theatre Department. West thrived as a teacher, influencing students such as Carol Sabiston and Eric Metcalfe. 

West was also part of The Point Group of Victoria printmakers, along with Herbert Siebner and Richard Ciccimarra. He exhibited many woodblock prints and lino block prints with the group, and was part of the Eight Prints portfolio produced by the group in 1959.

West died in Victoria in 2007. The William D. West Alumni Bursary Fund  benefits theatre design students at University of Victoria.

Selected Collections
University of Victoria, BC
The Feckless collection, Vancouver, BC