Vern has been interested in birds and art for as far back as he can remember. As a teenager, he took a course in Taxidermy. After High School he attended the Vancouver School of Art in Vancouver, British Columbia. He then pursued a career in engineering which took him all over the world as an engineering consultant. As a world traveler Vern lived and studied birds in Africa, Europe, Asia, and South America. His carvings have won numerous awards including many blue ribbons at the Ward Museum Wildfowl Competition.
