Aleen Aked

Aleen Aked (1907–2003) was a Canadian-American painter known for her landscapes and portraits.^[1][2]

Aleen Aked
Born	1907 (1907) Kildwick, United Kingdom
Died	2003 (aged 95–96) Toronto, Canada
Nationality	Canadian-American
Known for	Painter

Biography

Aked was born in Kildwick, England in 1907. Her family emigrated to Canada in 1910.^[3][4] She studied at Ontario College of Art in Toronto^[4][5] with several members of the Group of Seven; Arthur Lismer, Fred Varley, and A. Y. Jackson.^[1] After winning a Lismer scholarship, Aked started to attend Ontario College of Art part time at age 14,^[4][6] and she went on to graduate in 1928.^[6]

Aked lived in Sarasota, Florida during the winter months from 1929 to 1944. She studied art at the Ringling School of Art.^[1] Many of her paintings feature Florida landscapes and Floridians.

Aked was an avid golfer, holding the title of club champion of The Ladies Golf Club of Toronto from 1933–36.^[3]

During World War II Aked took a hiatus from exhibiting to turn her energies towards the war effort, sending over 5,000 parcels to the allied troops.^[3]

She died in Toronto in 2003.^[1]

Career

During her lifetime, Aked exhibited her paintings in North America including at the Royal Canadian Academy and the Sarasota Art Association.^[1] Her last exhibition was at the Robert McLaughlin Gallery in 1989.^[1][7]

Aked was a member of several art associations including the Ontario Society of Artists; the Sarasota Art Association (where she was president in 1942 and director in 1946); the Florida Federation of Art and the Southern States Art League.^[8]

Car collector

Aked, who started driving at age 11, also maintained a small car collection including: "a 1938 Cadillac, 1955 Chevrolet, 1959 Cadillac with fins, and a 1981 Oldsmobile."^[6]