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Henry George Glyde was an established artist, illustrator and educator who was instrumental in inaugurating arts training programs in the province of Alberta. Trained at the Brassey Institute in Hastings (1920-26) and the Royal College of Art in London, UK (1926-1930), Glyde majored in mural design, its techniques and materials during his studies.

Upon immigrating to Canada in 1935, Glyde initially taught at the Institute of Technology and Art in Calgary. He later went on to teach at the Banff School of Fine Arts (1936-66) and in the Department of Extension at the University of Alberta before establishing the fine arts program at the university in 1946. He served as the department head at the University of Alberta until his retirement in 1966.

Largely working in oil and watercolour, Glyde’s work primarily focused on the landscapes and people of Alberta, which were created during his many travels across the province. In addition to work on canvas, Glyde is also known for his commissioned murals. Glyde’s murals can be found in the Medicine Hat Public Library, the City of Edmonton Public Art Collection, and St Patrick’s Roman Catholic Church in Medicine Hat. His work can also be found in many public and private collections, including the Alberta Art Foundation, Whyte Museum of the Canadian Rockies, Art Gallery of Alberta as well as the University of Alberta Museums. In addition to having his work in their collection, the Glenbow Museum also holds Glyde’s archive of letters, sketchbooks and photographs.

Among his most distinguished accomplishments include serving as the first chairperson for the Alberta Visual Arts Board until 1965, and his election into the Royal Canadian Academy in 1949. A major nationally touring retrospective of Glyde’s work was organized by the Glenbow Museum in 1987.

For his contributions to the promotion and education of the arts in Alberta, Glyde was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Laws from the University of Alberta (1982). Upon his retirement, he moved with his wife Hilda Mabel to British Columbia. He passed away in 1998.