Finalist for a 2019 BC Book Prize

Finalist for a 2019 Victoria Book Prize

A handsome new retrospective on one of BC’s most beloved artists that unveils, for the first time, photographs, sketches, and ephemera from the artist’s estate.

The reputation of E. J. Hughes in British Columbia is second only to that of Emily Carr. His paintings, collected by every major gallery in our country, fetch more than $1 million at auction. Yet Hughes lived a notoriously private life.

Hughes painted scenes from all over BC, but he especially loved Vancouver Island, and lived most of his 93 years at Shawnigan Lake and Duncan. This book features paintings from his beloved island home—from Sidney, past Goldstream and the Malahat to Cowichan Bay, Genoa Bay, and Maple Bay. With stops along the way, he painted scenes from Ladysmith, Nanaimo, Comox, and Courtenay. Hughes recorded the passing of an era, capturing the coastal steamships, log booms, fishing boats, and the landscapes he treasured.

This book includes a biography of the artist, highlights more than 60 of his finest works alongside sketches and photos revealing his studio methods, and shares his handwritten notes.

Robert Amos has painted thousands of pictures of the urban landscape and specializes in commissioned paintings of homes and gardens. He writes a weekly column, "On Art," published in the Times Colonist, and is the author (and illustrator) of seven books about Victoria, including , Artists in their Studios: Where Art is Born, and Inside Chinatown: Ancient Culture in a New World. Robert has recently been the artist in residence at the Fairmont Empress Hotel and is an Honorary Citizen of Victoria. He was elected to the Royal Canadian Academy of Arts in 1995. Robert lives in downtown Victoria, British Columbia. Please visit Robert's website at robertamos.com.

Robert Amos' profile page

With enthusiasm and delight, Robert Amos has written a superb account of the artist’s life and art, replete with observations and anecdotes that enhance our understanding of Hughes’ paintings and of his love for the landscapes and life of Vancouver Island.

Charles C. Hill, Curator of Canadian Art, National Gallery of Canada (1980-2014)

Amos has produced a brilliant book, well-written, fascinating, with gorgeous illustrations . . . quite sincerely, [it] should be considered a must-have by every person who loves Vancouver Island. This is more than just a book for art lovers—even though, in itself, E. J. Hughes Paints Vancouver Island is itself a work of art.

Times Colonist

Those who want to delve into the nitty-gritty of a painter’s process may want to check out E.J. Hughes Paints Vancouver Island . . . It features the stories behind each painting, whether the location’s history, or photographs and preliminary sketches from the artist's archives.

Galleries West Magazine

With the exception of Emily Carr, nobody has painted British Columbia so vividly, for so long, and so well, as E.J. Hughes. Now fellow artist Robert Amos' moderately priced E. J. Hughes Paints Vancouver Island affords a biographical summary of Hughes' life and exclusively focuses on his depictions of Vancouver Island.

BC BookWorld

Deeply researched and richly illustrated.

Preview Magazine

Rare and captivating—an insight into a mysterious talent that shaped Canadian art quietly, yet dramatically.

Vue Weekly

The latest book on renowned Canadian painter E.J. Hughes straddles the genres of biography, history and Canadian art . . . Robert Amos composes an engaging backstory for each painting with the location's history, Hughes' experiences, and archival material including sketches, artist notes and location photos. These compelling paintings stand on their own, but Amos' descriptions add a human element and shed light on the artistic process. Hughes captures the landscape in a way that drifts between art and an old photograph, appealing to those interested in art and history alike.

BC History

This book is essential reading for all who love the work of this singular artist; it provides a wealth of new information and new images, and provides deep insight into the life and work of one of our most important painters.

Ian Thom, Senior Curator, Vancouver Art Gallery

[Amos and Hughes'] friendship and mutual respect make this book more personal than most coffee table volumes, and offer us a sort of double exposure invitation, to look at our world not only through the eyes of one artist but also through the eyes of another artist looking at the first artist looking at that world.

The Ormsby Review