early life and education mary frances pratt, a prominent figure in canadian art, was born in fredericton, new brunswick, in 1935. her early life was marked by a curious nature, encouraged by her mother, katherine eleanor west (née mcmurray), who nurtured her artistic inclinations. mary's father, william j. west, an attorney general and later a judge, also supported her artistic pursuits. mary attended the fredericton high school and later enrolled in mount allison university in sackville, new brunswick, where she studied art and english literature, graduating with a bachelor of arts degree in…