Irvine

(from Watford Guide-Advocate and The Observer, Sarnia articles)

Sarnia artist James (Jim) Irvine (1926–2006) was born in Brigden, Ont. A high school teacher by profession, he taught typing for four years at Watford High School before moving to Sarnia to teach at Sarnia Collegiate Institute and Technical School (SCITS). After a 30 year-long career as head of the commercial department at SCITS, Jim retired in 1992 and began focusing exclusively on his self-taught passion of pen and ink drawings.

While in Watford, Jim Irvine joined the local militia unit, the 48th Battery RCA. As an officer in the militia, he eventually organized a Cadet Corps in the high school.

His collection features pen and ink sketches of buildings that have changed or since vanished from view around Lambton County. Irvine always pointed out that there is nothing special about the buildings in Lambton except as “buildings are unique to their particular community.” Gleaning his material chiefly from old pictures and postcards, Irvine relished the historical aspect of his work and fell in love with the old buildings that “have a character that you don’t get the same anymore.”

James Irvine was featured during an Art in the Park exhibit at Forest’s Rotary Civic Square, as well as being featured in a professional art exhibition and sale at the Carnegie Gallery, Watford Library. In 2007 his family donated some of his work to the Warwick Township History Committee, to help in its fundraising efforts. The sketch below is an example of his fine work.

James Irvine sketch of Watford Grand Trunk Station. Courtesy Irvine Family.

Chapter 24 of 25 - Irvine Family

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