(Canadian, 20th C.) Donald Curley was born in Halifax, Nova Scotia, where he fell in love with his surroundings and the country. As a teenager, he was compelled to read about Canadian history. His heroes in art were C.W. Jefferys and Frances Ann Hopkins. As he and his talents grew, he expanded his historic repertoire to include his other interests, animals and wilderness, along with figures. Donald has been referred to as an "academic artist" because of his wide interest in subjects. He expanded and sharpened his technique and skills as a painter as well as mastering many media including watercolor, oil and gouache, until he became the accomplished artist he is today.

Now, he has plunged into creating wonderful maritime paintings, including both historical and contemporary compositions. Donald calls his art "objective realism" because he constantly strives to represent the infinite varieties of textures he sees in his subjects. His paintings are combinations of imagination and his own experiences. He wants his subjects to be believable and he often asks himself if he could pass into the painting without effort.

Donald graduated from the Nova Scotia College of Art & Design in 1958. He attended classes at the Art Students League in New York from 1959-1961 and again in 1966-1968. He traveled to London to study at the Royal Academy from 1969-1970. He is a member of the Society of Animal Artists, and has been included in "Who's Who in American Art", "Who's Who in International Art", and "Outstanding People of the 20th Century". In 2002 Donald was recognized by International Artist Magazine as one of the Master Painters of the World and in the next issue he was chosen to be the Grand Prize Winner, the first artist to be honored twice in the same competition.

He has completed many commissions, including those for Commemorative Stamps, Switzerland, and a gold portrait coin of Alexander Graham Bell for The Royal Canadian Mint. He also has works in many fine museums and venues including the Delaware Museum of Natural History, The Neville Public Museum in Wisconsin, the Carnegie Museum in Pennsylvania, the Yawkey Woodson Museum, Wisconsin, the Witte Museum, Texas, Walt Disney's Animal Kingdom, Florida, The Hiram Blauvelt Art Museum, New York, and The Art Gallery of Nova Scotia, and the Algonquin Museum in Ontario, among many others.

Donald's paintings are collected in Canada, United States, Mexico, Hawaii, England, Italy, France, Australia, India, and Spain. His paintings can be seen in museums, corporations, private collections, and the Quester Gallery in Stonington and Greenwich, Connecticut.

Donald Curley is represented by Quester Gallery.