Ada Bruce Torrance (1903-1982) studied painting under members of the Group of Seven. Her painting style is inspired by the bright colours and bold patterns favored by her teachers.

Born on Aug. 28, 1903, Ada Bruce Torrance was raised on her parental farm in Dufferin County, Central Ontario. Her artistic talent and love of painting were revealed early in her life. At the age of 19 her determination to pursue a career as an artist earned her a scholarship from the Ontario College of Art where she was inspired by the Group of Seven. She was fortunate to receive instruction from Varley, Lismer and J.E.H. Macdonald. In many of her landscapes, Group of Seven motifs are evident.

After graduating with an AOCA Degree in 1926, she found an outlet for her artistic talent as an interior decorator with the T. Eaton Company in downtown Toronto. Throughout the 1930’s she was employed as an art teacher at the Northern Vocational School in Toronto.

In her summers she traveled to Labrador, Maine, Gaspe, Cape Breton and Europe where she practiced her art and produced a number of pieces, which were shown in provincial exhibitions. She also completed many paintings in central Ontario and the Precambrian Shield.

In 1938 she married Dr. Thomas Lawrence Torrance, a medical doctor whose botanical interest inspired her in her wild flower studies. In 1945 the couple moved with their 3 young sons to Orillia, Ontario where Dr. Torrance started his medical practice, while Ada Torrance continued her painting career and discovered her talent for the design of quilts. The quilting was done by local Women’s Institutes for display at the annual Simcoe County Quilt and Rug Fair organized by the Simcoe County Arts and Crafts Association. Two of her designs, Maple Syrup Time and Northern Night won the Star Weekly Canadiana Award. Northern Night is now held by the Royal Ontario Museum while Maple Syrup Time is in the Etherington Collection at Queen"s University in Kingston.

The collection, including paintings, sketches in oil, watercolour and monochrome are held by the Torrance family, and a number of public institutions and private homes. A number of the paintings were displayed in major exhibitions such as:

• Tobermory-Royal Canadian Academy of Arts-1934
• Still Life-Royal Canadian Academy of Arts-1936
• Marsh Calla Lillies-Royal Canadian Academy of Arts-1936
• Ice Pan, Belle Isle- Ontario Society of Artists-1936
• Apples- Royal Canadian Academy of Arts-1938
• Cheticamp, Cape Breton- Ontario Society of Artists-1938
• Stooks and Stubble-Ontario Society of Artists-1938
• Sunflowers-Royal Canadian Academy of Arts- 1942
• Pastoral-Canadian Society of Painters in Watercolour-1961
• Sheep May Safely Graze- Canadian Society of Painters in Watercolour-1965
• The Rites of Spring- Masters Gallery Exhibition with Julius Griffiths- (Toronto)-1967

Ada Bruce Torrance died on July 7, 1982 in Orillia, Ontario.