Vern Gray was born in Rocky Mountain House, Alberta in the mid 1960s. After graduating from high school, he lived and traveled extensively through Australia and Asia, where he developed a passion for art and photography. Upon returning to Canada, Vern studied at Red Deer College and the University of Calgary, earning a Bachelor of Fine Arts and a Bachelor of Education, both with distinction, in 1995. Vern spent his first years teaching art in the First Nations communities of Saddle Lake and Siksika. He now teaches art and media to high school students in Airdrie, Alberta.
In recent years, Vern has begun to pursue his career as an artist while teaching and mentoring his students. His love for photography and travel has always found its way into his work. Trips to Europe, Peru and New York have resulted in a rich collection of imagery from which he draws inspiration. Vern has reignited his passion for painting. He draws on his passion for expressionist mark making and interpretation of form. Vern continues to work on imagery that relies on architecture, the local landscapes