trail tree
Dennnis Downes
"Dog Ponies" 		Dennis M. Downes
"Legends of the Great Lakes and Beyond"
Dennis M. Downes Legends of the Great Lakes and Beyond
Artist with 8’ Bronze “Cap Streeter”
Commissioned by Golub & Company 		dennis downes
"Women Thunderbird"

The main body of Dennis’ work has been inspired by research trips to ancient sites and to natural wonders across the Great Lakes Region and Beyond. Dennis’ travels began at a young age, taking trips to visit his mother’s people, the Basque Berriochoa Clan, living in the Idaho and Montana Rocky Mountain area. His travels have inspired both his paintings and his sculptures. Dennis currently works out of Northeastern Illinois, as well as the Wilderness Coast of Ontario. Each original painting is presented in a handmade frame. Dennis’ highly detailed frames contain inlays and unique touches that truly complete the piece. He has participated in over 100 solo, juried, public and private shows in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom over the past 25 years. Several of Dennis’ sculptures and paintings are on permanent display at museums, public libraries, historical societies, and national landmarks, as well as private collections across the country.

    Some of Dennis Downes' most recent honors in Painting and Sculpting are:
  • 2007 Joliet Fine Arts, “Festival of the Masters” (National Show) Best of Show, 2-Dimensional
  • 2008 Glencoe, “Festival of the Masters” (National Show)
    Best of Show, Painting
  • 2009 Chicago, “Lakefront Sculpture Exhibition”
    Honorarium and Bronze Sculpture installation in Downtown, Chicago
  • 2008, 2009, 2011 Northbrook Fine Arts, “Art in the Park”
    Award of Excellence, Best of Show
  • 2009 HGTV National Broadcast of Dennis’ Artwork
    High Relief Sculptures, Dog Ponies
  • 2010, 2011 AMDUR “Barrington Art Festival” (National Show)
    Best of Show, Painting
  • 2010 Permanent Installation of 8’ Realistic Bronze Sculpture, Chicago
    “Captain George “Cap” Wellington Streeter”
Saint Valentin Berrio-OchoaDennis and the Boise Basque Dancers surrounding the bronze high relief sculpture of Saint Valentin Berrio-Ochoa at St. John’s Cathedral. Downes’ historically significant bronze was dedicated and installed into the Basque Museum and Cultural Center in Boise, leading to the Governor of the State of Idaho, C. L. “Butch” Otter, to officially proclaim July 29, 2011 to be Saint Valentin Berrio-Ochoa Remembrance Day.


Dennis’ works has served to support and encourage the underprivileged and those in need at various charitable fundraising events over the years.
A schedule of some of I his past and upcoming charitable events can be seen on the Events Page of this website.

    Dennis is a member or contributor to the following organizations:
  • The Deer Path Art League of Lake Forest, IL
  • The Antioch Fine Arts Foundation of Antioch, IL
  • The Northbrook Art Commission of Northbrook, IL
  • The Basque Museum and Cultural Center of Boise, ID
  • The Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Public Art Program
  • President of the Great Lakes Trail Marker Tree Society (GLTMTS)www.GreatLakesTrailTreeSociety.org
  • Dennis is the author of the book, Native American Trail Marker Trees: Marking Paths Through the Wilderness.
    This book summarizes Dennis’ thirty year study of the Trail Marker Trees.
    It is available for purchase at the publisher’s website: www.chicagosbooks.com or the author’s GLTMTS website.
"For both painting and sculpture, Downes conducts exhaustive research" remarking on 'his dedication to education as well as to pure form in art."
Dr. Harry Spell, historian and foundry owner

For information regarding Bronze Projects or Commissioned Sculptures and Paintings: Please contact Downes Studio at 847-395-8875 Or email: downesstudio@earthlink.net