Carmelo Bilbao-Unanue, my father

Carmelo Bilbao-Unanue was born in Deusto (Basque Country) on the 16th of July, 1928. In 1946 he went to France and settled in Paris, and in 1950 he left for England to perfect his English. In 1951 he moved to Canada and established himself in Toronto, where he lived for about ten years. It was there that he began his professional life as a painter, at the same time working as a translator and language teacher.
He became a member of The Artists´ Guild of Toronto and continued to travel, first to Mexico and later to the United States, staying in both places for several months.
At the end of 1959 he returned to Europe and travelled around Germany, France, Switzerland, Austria and Italy, two years later returning to Bilbao, where he continued to paint and exhibit his work.
In 1964, in The Netherlands, he married Adriana der Kinderen and their only daughter, Karen Amaia, was born a year later in Germany, where they were living at that time.
In November 1968 the family setttled in the Basque Country and from that time on his work was exhibited regularly all over Spain. He also taught art in his own academy.
His work hangs in public and private collections in Europe, Canada, the USA, Venezuela, Australia and Japan.
He died on the 24th of September, 2005, in Algorta, Bizkaia.

Carmelo Bilbao-Unanue, my father

Carmelo Bilbao-Unanue was born in Deusto (Basque Country) on the 16th of July, 1928. In 1946 he went to France and settled in Paris, and in 1950 he left for England to perfect his English. In 1951 he moved to Canada and established himself in Toronto, where he lived for about ten years. It was there that he began his professional life as a painter, at the same time working as a translator and language teacher.
He became a member of The Artists´ Guild of Toronto and continued to travel, first to Mexico and later to the United States, staying in both places for several months.
At the end of 1959 he returned to Europe and travelled around Germany, France, Switzerland, Austria and Italy, two years later returning to Bilbao, where he continued to paint and exhibit his work.
In 1964, in The Netherlands, he married Adriana der Kinderen and their only daughter, Karen Amaia, was born a year later in Germany, where they were living at that time.
In November 1968 the family setttled in the Basque Country and from that time on his work was exhibited regularly all over Spain. He also taught art in his own academy.
His work hangs in public and private collections in Europe, Canada, the USA, Venezuela, Australia and Japan.
He died on the 24th of September, 2005, in Algorta, Bizkaia.