Born in Esquesing, Ontario, Stafford Plant was educated at the Western Technical School of Art. He studied under L.A.C. Panton, Group of Seven member Arthur Lismer and Frank Brigden. Plant put his artistic talent to use working as a graphic and structural designer as well as on advertising for various companies including MacMillan Bloedel. Following his discharge from the army, where he served as Lieutenant, he attended the University of British Columbia. Plant was a founding member of the Toronto Arts Club. He served as a council trustee for the Vancouver Art Gallery and became a member of the Canadian Society of Marine Artists. He was also a Signature member of the Federation of Canadian Artists. Plant gained recognition for both his painting and graphic design work partly because of his attention to detail, a characteristic integral to his personal artistic vision. For most of his life Plant straddled the commercial and fine art worlds. He explored different styles and themes executing works ranging from realistic to highly stylized semi-abstracted views of nature. Plant’s studio environment revealed his ability to stay organized, a skill that allowed him to move between the business and art worlds and influenced his high expectations of both. Plant became disillusioned with the gallery system and, seeking a more altruistic environment in which to work as a n artist, he withdrew all of his paintings from commercial galleries and retired from public life. When he died in November 2000 he left 301 paintings to the FCA to benefit the organization and its member artists. He hand-picked and packed each painting, ensuring the Federation received the best of his collection. In addition, he wrote into his will endowments such as a yearly art scholarship of $2000 and, reflecting his sly sense of humour, he wrote in an endowment for the Vancouver Art Gallery of $4000 a year to be used strictly for fresh flowers and plants so “they have some beauty in there”.