Toller Cranston, born in Hamilton, Canada, is widely acclaimed as the most influential figure skater of this century. His birthday falls between the astrological sign of the sportsmen (Aries) and the artist (Taurus).
Toller is something of a modern-day Renaissance man. A lifetime of remarkable achievements make this artist extraordinary: Olympic medalist; Member of the Order of Canada; three-time world free-skating champion; Canadian Athlete of the Year; internationally-known painter, illustrator, author, designer, choreographer, commentator and star of award-winning television specials and films. These credits are merely the tip of the creative iceberg. As an artist, Mr. Cranston is highly respected by his peers and has exhibited in many prestigious galleries around the world.
Truly the "skater with the painter's eye," his skating and art have always been interconnected, with one passion feeding the other. His paintings - like his skating - are vibrant, bold, and dramatic. Many of his internationally recognized paintings deal with skating themes; his work appears in the World Figure Skating Museum, and the International Skating Union hosted a one-man exhibition of his work in conjunction with the 1997 World Championships.
Now in his early 50's, Cranston splits his time between his home in San Miguel de Allende in Mexico and his loft in Toronto, where he paints canvases for sale at his Toronto art gallery.
