Our Instructors
Owner, Director, Instructor and Artist
Emily Grav (she/her)
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Emily Grav graduated from UVIC with an Honours BFA in Visual Arts in 2005. She gained extensive experience teaching Art and ESL while living in Taiwan from 2007 to 2008 and also directing children’s Art Camps here in Victoria. In September 2008, Emily was inspired by the children she’d been teaching at a local art camp and decided to open The Paint Box School of Art so she could teach art to kids, teens and adults, all year long! Emily enjoys teaching all styles of art, especially drawing and painting. Through an open and engaging teaching style, she encourages students to express themselves creatively through many mediums. Since opening The Paint Box, Emily has exhibited her paintings in numerous art shows around Victoria. Having explored watercolour, acrylic and mixed media for many years she's now engrossed herself "En Plein Air" Paining (the art of painting out doors) using oil paints. She's also taking the occasional mural commission. Along with painting, Emily enjoys other hobbies, such as tennis, mountain biking, yoga and spending time with her kids, Jasper and Quinn. You can follow Jasper's diving on his instagram @jasper_diver and Emily's Art @emilygravart
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Artist & Instructor ~ Madi Williams (she/her)
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Madi started subbing at The Paint Box in 2023 and is now teaching on Tuesdays & Fridays.
Local artist, Madi Phaff, has been interested in all things art for as long as she can remember. Madi began her art journey at the University of Lethbridge, where she completed two undergraduate degrees. While working on her Bachelor of Fine Arts, Madi focused on drawing, oil and acrylic painting, printmaking, as well as installation art and some photography. Madi obtained her Bachelor of Education from the University of Lethbridge and now enjoys teaching Upper Elementary art at the Maria Montessori Academy as well as children's and adult art classes at Paint Box School of Art and McTavish Academy of Art. Most of Madi's inspiration for her artwork is found in nature, with a specific focus on patterns in nature. In her off time, Madi enjoys hiking, camping, bbqing, learning about trees and plants, spending time with the ocean, attending local music shows, and quality time with her husband and friends. "Teaching art and creating are my biggest passions in life. Through time and thought, these creations become tangible treats for the living." |
Artist & Instructor ~ Ana Eligio (she/her)
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Ana has been teaching at The Paint Box since 2022 and teaches Sundays, Mondays & Thursdays.
She is a self-taught artist born and raised in Mexico and has been doing art ever since she can recall. Ana is always learning something new and has delved into all kinds of artsy activities such as mural-ism, resin art, embroidery, clay sculpting, jewelry making, animation, graphic design,and more! Plus, she specially enjoys drawing and painting. This passion for art led her to study digital design and in 2021 she graduated with honors from Vancouver Film school, specializing in motion design. She worked in digital design and animation for a while before moving to Canada, and has recently received a bachelor of arts in professional communications. Ana strongly believes that anyone can be a great artist, the key to achieving this is to stay motivated and enjoy the process! |
Artist & Instructor Katie Heaton (she/her)
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Katie Heaton is an artist and educator who began instructing at the Paint Box in 2025. She currently teaches Saturday classes.
Since completing her Bachelor’s of Education at Uvic in 2022, Katie has been teaching at the middle school level in the Greater Victoria School District. Her educational philosophy is based around authenticity and adaptability, and she aims to foster a sense of wonder through the arts. Her own artistic practice is an ever evolving one, and she loves experimenting with illustration, collage, drawing, fibre arts, printmaking, and more. In addition to teaching, art, and teaching art, Katie is passionate about horseback riding, running, and just generally being outside and in the company of people she loves. Katie believes that the process of making art is just as important as the final product, and she encourages her students to explore, take risks, and play with ideas. |
Artist & Instrucor Lia Schultz (she/her)
Lia has been teaching at The Paint Box since June 2024.
Lia is a recent high school graduate and attended art classes at The Paint Box for 4 years along with being a volunteer for 3 years. Her experience babysitting and coaching skating has instilled in her a passion for working with kids of all ages. Teaching kids art is a combination of her two passions and is excited to share her knowledge of various mediums and arts styles. Lia's other interest include figure skating, raising chickens, and making the world a better through creative expression. |
Artist & Instructor ~ Haley Whittaker (she/her)
Haley is a local artist and educator, with a passion for art for as long as she can remember. She has had the privilege of teaching art to children in classroom settings around the world, including the Philippines, Australia, and Fiji. Haley recently graduated from the University of Victoria with a Bachelor of Education and plans to pursue a Master’s in Art Education. She feels grateful to be a part of The Paint Box School community, where her love for teaching and creating can come together. Her personal artwork is rooted in natural, earthy tones. Using acrylic paint, she creates abstract pieces guided by intuition, time, and feeling. In her free time, Haley enjoys camping, live music, spending time with friends and family, and being outdoors with two golden retriever Winnie and Carl. |