As a child, Colette was drawn to the quiet expanse of the prairie, later to the wonder of the mountains and beyond where she wanders still, forever inspired by nature. 

As a young woman, she married a Viking, becoming Colette Nilsen. Together they explored the desolation of Norway's northern coast, the sun-baked Outback and every road between before the seasons changed, drawing Colette to the Pacific’s Salish Sea.

Educated at the University of Alberta, at workshops including New York's Triangle and Saskatchewan’s Emma Lake and studio sessions in Japan and China, Colette remains dedicated to the traditions of painting and sculpture while being compelled by her works' adaptation for film and television.