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E.J. Hughes Paints British Columbia
A retrospective on one of BCs most famous artists that features beautifully reproduced landscape paintings from all over mainland BC, and unveils new photographs, sketches, and ephemera from the artists estate.
- GenresArtNonfiction
204 pages, Hardcover
Published October 22, 2019
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
April 23, 2026
https://www.gallery.ca/collection/art... – Christie Passage, Hurst Island, B.C. (1962)
Amos’s book is a rich and engaging introduction to one of my province’s most distinctive artists. My interest in Hughes was sparked by the documentary The Painted Life of E. J. Hughes, which led me to seek out both more of his work and more about his life.
Hughes (1913–2007), though widely regarded as British Columbia’s best-known landscape painter, remained intensely private, avoiding public appearances whenever possible. That reserve contrasts with the clarity and quiet confidence of his art. His style is grounded in realism but draws on a blend of influences—subtle hints of magic realism, touches of primitivism, and occasional echoes of Emily Carr—resulting in scenes that feel both familiar and slightly heightened.
Amos’s book, at 424 pages, offers a generous survey of Hughes’s career, combining vivid reproductions with accessible commentary. The paintings themselves—coastal inlets, small towns, and working harbours—capture a distinctly British Columbian sense of place, rendered with careful composition and luminous colour.
For readers new to Hughes, this book serves as an excellent gateway; for admirers, it is a rewarding deep dive into a quietly remarkable artistic legacy. For me it provided a wonderful chance to enjoy beautifully executed paintings of scenes in my own back yard, so to speak.
Amos’s book is a rich and engaging introduction to one of my province’s most distinctive artists. My interest in Hughes was sparked by the documentary The Painted Life of E. J. Hughes, which led me to seek out both more of his work and more about his life.
Hughes (1913–2007), though widely regarded as British Columbia’s best-known landscape painter, remained intensely private, avoiding public appearances whenever possible. That reserve contrasts with the clarity and quiet confidence of his art. His style is grounded in realism but draws on a blend of influences—subtle hints of magic realism, touches of primitivism, and occasional echoes of Emily Carr—resulting in scenes that feel both familiar and slightly heightened.
Amos’s book, at 424 pages, offers a generous survey of Hughes’s career, combining vivid reproductions with accessible commentary. The paintings themselves—coastal inlets, small towns, and working harbours—capture a distinctly British Columbian sense of place, rendered with careful composition and luminous colour.
For readers new to Hughes, this book serves as an excellent gateway; for admirers, it is a rewarding deep dive into a quietly remarkable artistic legacy. For me it provided a wonderful chance to enjoy beautifully executed paintings of scenes in my own back yard, so to speak.
January 30, 2020
We have traveled to many of the areas that E.J. Hughes has painted so it was a trip down memory lane for me. I loved his interpretation of the scenery and one could feel the coolness of the temperature in the mountain terrain. I loved his cloud paintings and even his foreboding of the darkness and stillness of this part of Canada. And even better this book featured his life history along with his wife. Also the relationship between artist and agent. A great retrospective of this modest minded artist and his life time paintings.
July 7, 2022
Beautiful collection of paintings and retelling of the artist's humble life and creative process - a wonderful journey into 20th century British Columbia
January 5, 2024
I love and respect all of EJ Hughes paintings.
Robert Amos does an outstanding job on all of these homages.
Robert Amos does an outstanding job on all of these homages.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews