About the Cover Artist: Low Sun in Rabbittown by Grant Boland

In 2018, Grant Boland, a Newfoundland-based visual artist, experienced an acute stroke on the left side of his cerebellum. This event was preceded by months of worsening dizzy spells that would occur 1 to 2 times per week. Though he initially attempted to continue painting, he quickly realized the stroke had compromised his motor control, describing the sensation as feeling like “a marionette... and there was a drunk toddler in control.”

The stroke left Grant with lingering numbness on the left side of his body. Despite these limitations, he was able to complete the painting he had been working on at the time of his stroke. Grant has completed numerous paintings since then, and he describes his art as a form of physical and emotional rehabilitation.

Grant’s experience of a stroke brought new urgency and perspective to his decades-long career. Known for his precise and often photorealistic work, Grant has won numerous accolades, including the 2025 King Charles III Coronation Medal and 2 Elizabeth Greenshields Awards for painting. His work has been featured in major national institutions and is held in private and public collections internationally.

Grant’s stroke has had a lasting impact not only on his physical health but also on his mindset. What began as a frightening medical episode has since become a turning point in his artistic approach, and Grant is driven by a sharpened sense of purpose and a desire to make the most of his creative life. “You don’t want to stagnate,” he reflects, noting that the experience has made him less complacent and more focused on what he wants to achieve through his work. 

Grant’s artwork can be viewed on his website, 
https://grantboland.com/

Source: Artist Grant Boland continues painting after stroke. https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/newfoundland-labrador/grant-boland-stroke-1.4672029. Accessed November 16, 2025.