Since age 10, Ted McLaren has had a thing for painting and cars. His first car was a 1958 Corvette and he has also had a lifelong affinity for Can-Am and Formula 1 racing. He graduated from the Ontario College of Art and Design in 1966. But never in his wildest dreams did he think capturing the beauty of the automobile would become a major focus in his life.

A packaging design engineer by trade, Ted spent several successful years running a Minneapolis-based consumer packaging development group, amassing over 40 packaging-related patents. While living in Minneapolis, he also designed his dream home and other new homes in what became some of Minneapolis' most affluent neighborhoods. However, the packaging industry eventually came calling again — this time in Ohio — and Ted went to Toledo in the late '80s to save a foundering packaging business. For the next ten years, Ted worked tirelessly and succeeded. The company was sold in 2000. Ted continued as its President through 2005.

Upon concluding a long and successful business career, Ted turned once again to the canvas. An avid boater, his initial work consisted of nautical themes, but several trips to the U.S. desert Southwest prompted him to expand his repertoire to the land.

Around this time, Ted also restored a '64½ Mustang Convertible — and, ever the artist, he found a unique way to capture the essence of the American icon. He developed a technique of composing various parts of the car on canvas, rather than the entire vehicle. With the inspiration for The Auto Icon Series set, a second career began.

Over time, Ted assembled a collection large enough to support a gallery display. It caught the attention of Scott Hudson, owner of the Hudson Gallery in Sylvania, Ohio. Hudson called the Mustang and Jaguar images "like nothing he'd ever seen," and asked McLaren if he had more cars. Hudson went on to say "there are so many painters who can do Southwest — but no one does what you do with cars."

Ted spent the winter painting more inspired automotive art — and his first show was held the following summer. Since then, Ted McLaren's work has been noticed by several companies and car collectors, and has had other gallery shows. He's done work for car dealers – many of his works are displayed in dealer showrooms across the country — and has had requests from as far away as England. In 2007, he was also asked to exhibit his work at the Whitney Hotel in Detroit as part of the North American International Auto Show.

Ted remains an avid traveler and boater. He also enjoys spending time with wife Susan, sons, daughters and grandchildren. Ted currently lives in Perrysburg, Ohio.

Quick bits about Ted McLaren:

• Favorite musician — Jimmy Buffett
• Favorite smell — Ocean air
• Signature dish — Salmon salad
• Where he works — In the back of his house: a nautical-themed studio and bar combination