Ray Mead (1921–1998) was a Canadian abstract expressionist and a member of Painters Eleven, a group that introduced modern abstraction to Canada. Born in Watford, England, he studied at the Slade School of Art before moving to North America during World War II. Settling in Hamilton, Ontario, in 1946, he became a key figure in Canadian abstraction, influenced by Robert Motherwell and Stuart Davis. Mead worked as an art director at MacLaren Advertising in Toronto and Montreal, where he connected with Quebec abstractionists. His bold use of color and structural compositions, often featuring high horizon lines, set his work apart. Fellow artist William Ronald called him "the most intellectual" of Painters Eleven. After returning to Toronto in 1987, Mead painted continuously until his passing. His work is held in major Canadian collections, including the National Gallery of Canada and the Art Gallery of Ontario, with retrospectives celebrating his impact on Canadian abstraction.