From May 1 to June 30, we are pleased to feature the work of Vancouver Island-based artist and wildlife photographer Jon Gugin.

Deeply inspired by the wild landscapes of his childhood, Jon captures the spirit of the West Coast through two distinct lenses: evocative charcoal wildlife portraits and bold, dramatic nature photography. His work reflects a lifelong connection to the outdoors, shaped by years of exploration, artistic study, and creative evolution. We invite you to discover his collection just off of our Driftwood Cafe on the beach level of our Beach Building, during your upcoming visit to the Inn.

Growing up on the island, I was exposed from an early age to the wonders of the outdoors in one of the most abundantly wild and awe inspiring places on the planet. Spending much of my childhood exploring the local forests; giant western red cedars, salal, sword ferns, and black-tailed deer quickly became ingrained in my imagination and part of my identity.

In my youth, if I wasn’t in wild spaces, I would find myself lost for hours sketching in my room. Often using old National Geographic magazines as reference material.

During my teenage years art and music would be a big part of my life. I attended Frances Kelsey Secondary, spending much of my time in art programs. With the direction of my teachers, I was able to add to my skill set beyond graphite pencils.

In my early twenties I attended the graphic design program at The Pacific Design Academy, receiving my diploma in graphic design. I began a career in design shortly after, working on design and illustration projects, both locally and internationally, for brands mostly in the craft beer and outdoor industries.

I began to dive deep into the world of wildlife and nature photography in my mid-thirties. I found wildlife photography to be a compelling combination of my love of all things wild with my creative visions. Often trying to bring the technical photography process into the fine art world, I prefer bold compositions and dramatic focal planes over a more catalogic approach.

My new pursuit of outdoor photography also ignited a new fire for fine art once again. This time, trading in graphite for charcoal allows much more control over texture and depth, two aspects of art that are endemic to photography. In charcoal, I found a medium that once more merged and supported my creative visions and passion for wildlife. Again, choosing bold compositions with dramatic lighting, strong textures, and high dynamic range, I attempt to create engaging wildlife portraits that emote a feeling and a presence that I relate to each animal.

I continue to work both in my basement studio and the forests of Vancouver Island, relentlessly and obsessively pursuing ways to communicate my love of the wild.

jongugin.myportfolio.com / @jongugin on Instagram

All pieces on display are available for purchase, and our Gift Gallery team would be pleased to assist with any questions or purchase inquiries -