Raised on a dairy and grain farm near Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Dr. Robert Buhr remembers using Tempera paints in his one room elementary school, beginning his love of art. He enjoyed sketching and drawing cartoons. The love of the outdoors was always near to his heart.

After earning his degree in Medicine at the University of Saskatchewan, Bob began his career in General and Family practice in Saskatoon. With further studies in Tropical Medicine in Antwerp, Belgium, he with his young family spent several years in what is now the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Following further medical residency in Saskatchewan, Bob continued his medical practice for 13 years in New Brunswick, 4 years in Fort Erie, Ontario, and then 17 years in Virginia. In 2012, he with his wife chose Stratford for retirement in closer proximity to family and grandchildren and with the wonderful city in a rural setting, reminding him of his roots.

During several years in Martinsville, Virginia, Bob was also able to pursue his long-held desire to paint with oils. He had weekly guidance from a skilled local artist, Karen DeSpot, at her studio. With a lifetime hobby of bird watching, his first joy was painting birds, expanding to landscapes, old barns, cityscapes, rural settings, and also venturing into portrait painting. With no formal training, and mainly self-taught, during retirement Bob has been able to give himself to his love of colour and texture and form as he seeks to transform his photography or sketches with oils onto canvas.

Gallery Stratford is proud to present “Rural Views” as Dr. Robert Buhr’s debut exhibition.