1986 - 1994

The company was started by Wim Van Winsen back in 1986, growing from a single interaction to servicing some of the country’s most prolific and well-known artists.

1994-2004

In 1994, Bert (Wim’s brother) and Irene van Winsen took over the business, and for the next decade Winsen’s Canvases would enhance its processes and practices, attracting new artists and serve an increasingly wide variety of artistic needs. The business evolved naturally, adding the re-stretching of original artworks and prints to its skill set, and close relationships between art galleries and Winsen’s Canvases were formed. Providing custom-gilded framing proved to be a rewarding venture, and being part of the process to frame a completed artwork continues to motivate Winsen’s Canvases to refine gilding techniques, keep abreast with current décor trends and create signature mouldings.

2004 -

Keeping the company in the family, Bert and Irene’s son, Gavin van Winsen, joined in 2004, and strives to maintain the ethos originally valued by the van Winsens – uncompromising on quality, using the best materials available, and valuing the customer relationship above all else. From close collaboration with the artist, and in response to varied needs, Winsen’s Canvases is now able to manufacture different shaped-canvases, including round canvases of varying diameter and depth. Other recent developments are the design and manufacture of aluminium stretcher frames, which finds unique application as a support structure for all cloth types.

Winsen’s Canvases continues to test canvas types and priming materials, ensuring consistency and quality of the raw materials. Furthermore, with an expanding range of Belgian Linens, Winsen’s aims to provide the correct support for artists to work on.