Originally from Bristol, England, Wendy Toogood came to Canada in 1952. She is a graduate of the Alberta College of Art (now the Alberta University of Arts (AUArts) in 1969) in Calgary, and completed post-graduate work at the Instituto Allende, San Miguel de Allende, in Mexico. From 1975 to 2006, Toogood served as an instructor at her alma matter, the AUArts, teaching in the fibre department. 

Before returning to Calgary in 1974, Toogood found it a challenging time in arts for women (especially in textile).  She and her husband (Don Mabie) moved to Mexico for a short time, then to Toronto for four years where her art was exhibited.  In 1970 by the National Gallery of Canada selected a large cloth construction from an exhibition I was in to tour Canada for a year in the “Four Hangings” exhibition. 

In 2024 Wallace Galleries invited Wendy after a 20 year exhibition hiatus to have a retrospective exhibition of her large fabric works and the “Nakusp Narratives”.  Her energy, exuberant and light brought were a infectious at the opening with many previous students, colleagues and friends.  We were honored to be able to host the exhibition.