Painter and cartoonist Gabriel Forrester is inspired by his daily surroundings, living and working in downtown Ottawa. Painting whimsical and expressive scenes of the Capital of Canada, his most common subjects include the Rideau Canal, Parliament Hill, and the Byward Market, portrayed with a sense of playfullness.

Broad brush strokes, bold colour, thickly textured paint characterize his work. Taking cues from the surrealists, Gabriel works dreamlike elements into his paintings in a purposefully unrestrained manner. Giant snowflakes, yellow hills, perfect crescent moons and stars add a charming and joyful quality to his work that is distinctively his own vision of our city.