Ray Sim

Nuu-chah-nulth

Ray Sim was born in Comox, British Columbia, Canada in 1968 and grew up in Port Alberni, a small city on the west side of Vancouver Island. He is a member of the Musqueam Salish Nation of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. He also has close ties to the Gitksan through his grandfather, who is from the Gitamaax Band.

Ray attended art classes taught by Ron Hamilton when he was just 11 years old. Those classes fueled his interest in Northwest Coast Art. He received two years of formal training from 1992 to 1994 at the Kitanmaax School of Northwest Coast Art in Hazelton, BC. He first took an introductory carving course with Vernon Stephens, and then move onto an advanced carving course with Ken Mowatt. Ray feels his time spent there, learning from the instructors was an invaluable experience.

In 2001, Ray participated in an Advanced Design Workshop offered by Robert Davidson. Ray says that this has been a very enriching educational experience, and that what he has learned in these workshops will help to elevate his work to come to a higher level of accomplishment. He has continued to be inspired by the many Northwest Coast artists he meets, as well as by their art.

He has taught art at the Haahuupayuk School and the Friendship Centre as well as various schools in Port Alberni, BC. He has been adopted by a Nuu-chah-nulth family from Port Alberni. Ray is an artist dedicated to his work. He continues to strive toward furthering his understanding of Northwest Coast Art as he shares his own understanding with others.