Harrison Ellenshaw

Many sons growing up in the shadow of a famous father feel that they want to carve their own paths in life. "That was me," says Harrison Ellenshaw, son of Disney Legend and master painter Peter Ellenshaw, who won an Oscar for his visual effects work on "Mary Poppins" and was nominated a total of five times for the Academy Award. "I had grown up fascinated by my father's painting." Harrison says. "He would sometimes give me canvas and paints." I have photographs of me painting when I was a small boy. My father's life was painting, even during meals he would bring the canvases he was working on into the kitchen and sit and eat and look, criticizing his own work. My mother was not always pleased that this was how the family spent mealtime, but she understood his passion. But I found both this passion and his incredible talent intimidating. I was convinced I could never live up to any of it."


Harrison graduated from Whittier College with a BA in psychology. By then, in the early 70s, the country was in the throes of a recession and Harrison found it difficult to find a job. "I remember driving with my father one day," he recalls, "and he said, "Well, you know, just for the time being, if you're interested, the matte department at Disney is looking for apprentices.'"


"It had been very unique growing up having a father who knew and worked for Walt Disney -- he was a living legend, an icon. But in a sense I took being in a 'show business family' for granted."


Then, Harrison got a phenomenal break. "Fate smiled on me, as it had for my father," he says humbly. "I got a chance to do some work on 'Star Wars'". At this point, a tale of two Ellenshaws becomes the tale of two separate Ellenshaws, as this is where Harrison begins to really strike out on his own, away from his father's legacy. His work on "Star Wars" was so well received that he was asked to return to work on "The Empire Strikes Back". By this time, having clearly carved a niche for himself, Harrison had no problem working with his father on Disney's "The Black Hole" in 1979. Harrison then went solo again to add his unforgettable touch to "Tron", one of the most unique and visually stunning films ever, now a cult classic. After work on "Captain Eo," "Superman IV," "Ghost" and other films, a memorable year for Harrison was 1989, when he worked on "Dick Tracy".


Harrison's work has been exhibited at the prestigious Hammer Galleries in New York, as well as galleries in London and San Francisco. Collectors Editions is proud to publish the works of Harrison Ellenshaw, in all their true, vivid color.