KEES WOUTERS was born in Alphen an de Rijn, Holland in 1943.  At the age of 9 his family immigrated to Edmonton, Alberta, in 1953.  All his formal education took place in Edmonton, where degrees in Physical Education and Education led to a 25-year career in teaching and coaching.  Kees moved to Vancouver in 1991, where he taught Art and Physical Geography at St. John's school until his retirement and move to Salt Spring Island in 2002.

Basically self taught as an artist, it was the vanishing rural architecture in Alberta that motivated him to start with his initial medium of interest--pen and ink drawing.  Over the years the subject matter and media have expanded to include acrylics, watercolour and oil pastels.  Extensive travel has always provided an unlimited supply of subject matter to be put to paper and canvas.  Kees is an active member of the Salt Spring Island Painters' Guild.