About the artist

Patricia Watson (shown here with her favourite Bear - Merlin) was born in England and received formal training and subsequent employment in haute couture dressmaking in London.

She moved to Burlington, Ontario, where her family of four grew up and she was able to pursue a career in sales management.

Having found satisfaction in designing and making clothing and textiles for family use and being a lifetime Teddy Bear collector it was a logical step to create Bears as a craft and art form for herself and others.

Bryn Mawr Bears are original designs from Patricia’s own patterns, influenced by the earliest Teddy Bears on record circa 1900.

She makes annual trips to the UK where she selects her mohair fur fabric and imports it exclusively for her Bears.

Patricia started selling Bryn Mawr Bears in 1992 and in 1993 she was selected to exhibit at the Toronto One-of-a-Kind Show and she has been at the Show every year since then.

Over the years she has developed a loyal group of collectors and now many sales are by word-of-mouth recommendation and commissions for special events.

In 1996 Patricia and her husband James moved to Vancouver Island where she can garden almost 12 months a year and create her Bears in a log cabin studio located in her garden overlooking the sea.