E.J. Hughes was born in North Vancouver, British Columbia and spent a significant part of his childhood in Nanaimo, British Columbia. Raised during the Depression, he studied at the Vancouver School of Applied Art and Design where he graduated in 1933. His talent was recognized early, one of his teachers was Frederick Varley of the Group of Seven (artists), and another member, Lawren Harris, recommended him for the inaugural Emily Carr Scholarship.

Hughes’ paintings are best known for their strong and appealing images of the landscape and seascape of British Columbia. His distinctive style of painting is marked by the use of flattened space, skewed perspective and simplified shapes. The paintings combine compelling clarity with a sense of the unknown and an appreciation for natural surroundings. Hughes passed away in 2007 at the age of 93.

About the Author

Jane Grace Cole is a faculty member at Vancouver Island University where she teaches studio and art history in the Dept. of Art and Design. In her capacity as a VIU faculty member, Cole has served as Chair of the department and as Director and Curator of the Nanaimo Art Gallery. Jane Cole had been a friend of E.J. Hughes and his wife since meeting them in 1974. Cole is a practicing artist who has works in national and international collections.