Henry de Jager was born Holland in the early 1940's. He started drawing and painting when he was young as he has a natural talent for art and is primarily self-taught. Having been educated in Rotterdam, Henry became interested in architecture and.eventually chose the profession of sign designer and worked throughout Holland.Henry immigrated to Canada, settling in Edmonton, Alberta, where he established a commercial sign business and created his own method of  intricate three-dimensional cedar signs, which were heavily decorated with his own fine artwork. These beautiful works of art are displayed across Canada, with many in Alberta and British Columbia.

After thirty years of intense involvement in the signage business Henry now devotes all his energy to his love of watercolours.Henry's work as a sign designer involved drawing and painting, especially creating watercolours, that has remained the primary focus in his life. He draws inspiration for his art from various places and experiences. Some of his most beautiful paintings have been inspired by his adventures throughout Europe and the people and places of Canada have been an ongoing wealth of artistic inspiration.

Henry particularly enjoys canoe trips down the Coppermine and Nahanni Rivers, which allows him to spend time painting in the great Canadian wilderness. Henry has developed his own unique style of watercolour painting in which vibrant colours and spontaneity create remarkably beautiful individual works of art. He enjoys painting flowers, ships, landscapes and cityscapes as well as portraits of individuals from interesting cultures around the world.

Henry has attended art workshops all over Canada and Holland and his paintings have been shown in numerous galleries throughout Alberta and Holland. He continues to spend most of his time painting, but he also continues to create other works of art in the medium of wood including hope chests and other decorative knives.