Ernest Swanson

Ernest Swanson, Haida artist, began engraving in 2004 under Haida jeweller, Jim McGuire. Ernest comes from a long line of established artists. His cousin is popular carver Jim Hart and his grandfather was prolific argillite carver, Rufus Moody. In 2005, he started carving wood with Christian White. This same year, he also won an ‘Emerging Artist’ award from British Columbia’s Alliance of Arts and Culture. In 2009, Ern graduated from Vancouver's Northwest Coast Jewellery Arts program under established Haida/Kwakwaka'wakw artist, Dan Wallace. In 2010, Ernest worked on a large pole with Jim Hart at the Bill Reid Gallery in Vancouver. Recently, he has been creating miniature argillite pendants with engraved silver bezel settings and abalone inlays.