A Whitehorse artist achieved one of her long-term artistic goals when her work was selected to be showcased on this year’s Northwestel directory cover.

The 2010 directory for the Yukon and northern British Columbia features an acrylic painting called Yukon River Valley by Gabriele Watts of Whitehorse.

“It’s very exciting to have your work on the cover of the Northwestel phone book, which is found in every home and business,” said Watts. “It has been a goal of mine to have my work featured there. I have entered the annual directory artwork competition twice before. I was over-joyed when I was told that this year my entry was selected. It’s so gratifying to have your work recognized in this way.”

Yukon River Valley was painted in the summer of 2009 from a photograph Watts took at the cliffs near the Meadow Lake Golf Course in Whitehorse, close to one of her favourite walking trails. “I have been blessed to be able to transform some of my memories and pictures into works of art,” says Watts. “It’s very gratifying to put something you see as beautiful on canvas and share it with others.”

Watts works primarily in acrylic painting but also creates art with pressed flowers and is an avid photographer. “Although I have always enjoyed creating art in one form or another, living in the Yukon has inspired me to paint its many beautiful landscapes,” says Watts. “It is a joy to be connected to the art community and the many talented artists who call the Yukon their home.”

Watts was born in Germany and immigrated to Canada at the age of 9. Prior to moving to Whitehorse sixteen years ago with her husband and two sons, she grew up and lived in Calgary. Her lengthy career as a flight attendant enabled her to enjoy many travels throughout Europe, the United States and Canada before turning her focus on her artwork 10 years ago. “I have found visual beauty in all the places I’ve visited,” says Watts. “Each landscape has its own appeal and every experience has an impact on your life and your art. I have been lucky to see many beautiful places in the world, but the Yukon has something very special that for me is unmatched by anything else I’ve seen.”

“We are honoured to feature such a fine artist on our Yukon and northern B.C. directory cover this year,” said Anne Kennedy, Northwestel Director Communications. “As is always the case, we had a wonderful array of artwork submitted to our annual competition. It was a delight to have so much to choose from. Yukon River Valley is a wonderful depiction of the beautiful northern landscape that we are so blessed to enjoy every day. We are confident that northerners will enjoy having this work in their homes and offices for the next year.”

Each year, Northwestel invites artists from all across the North to submit their work to be considered for use on the covers of its three directories in the NWT, Nunavut and Northern British Columbia/Yukon. The company is already inviting artists to make submissions to its competition for the 2011-2012 directory covers. The deadline for entries is September 17^th of this year. For more information, go to www.nwtel.ca, and then click on In The Community and Directory Cover Art.

Northwestel provides complete telecommunications solutions and entertainment services in the Northwest Territories, Nunavut, Yukon, northern British Columbia and High Level, Alberta. The company’s operations span nearly 4 million square kilometres of the most remote and rugged areas of Canada.