E.J. Hughes Collection
User Collection Public
Edward John (E. J.) Hughes was a Canadian painter best known for his paintings of British Columbia landscapes. Hughes was born 17 February 1913 in North Vancouver, and grew up in Nanaimo. After high school he attended the Vancouver School of Decorative and Applied Arts (now Emily Carr University) where he studied with Frederick Varley, graduating in 1933. When war broke out in 1939 Hughes enlisted with the Royal Canadian Artillery. While posted in England he was made an official war artist, and from 1943 to 1946 depicted war scenes in England and Alaska.
Following the War Hughes and his wife, Fern Rosabell Irvine (1916-1974), moved to Victoria. Due to financial struggles, the couple moved shortly thereafter to a cabin at Shawnigan Lake. Max Stern (1904-1984), Emily Carr's former dealer and the owner of the Dominion Gallery in Montreal, discovered Hughes's work and made a deal to buy all of his paintings. Their relationship lasted until Stern's death, and Dominion continued to buy Hughes's paintings until his death. Ed and Fern had three children - Edward, Elizabeth and Mac - all of whom died in infancy. Hughes died 5 January 2007 at age 93.
Permalink: http://vault.library.uvic.ca/collections/99c0f746-4e95-436a-90d7-e939b42c2edf
Collection Details
- Items 145
- Last Updated 2026-01-23
Works (145)
21. Untitled [Ship in the waves]
- Title:
- Untitled [Ship in the waves]
- Description:
- Sketch using a grid of a steam ship in the background with waves crashing against the shore in the foreground.
- Subject:
- Landscape painting--Technique, Landscape painters, Painters, Landscape painting, Canadian, Landscape painting, Art, Creation (Literary, artistic, etc.), Drawing, Ships, Artists' preparatory studies, Artists, and Landscapes
- Creator:
- Hughes, E. J. (Edward John), 1913-2007
- Language:
- eng
- Date Created:
- 1926?/1967?
- Rights Statement:
- In Copyright - Educational Use Permitted
- License:
- Copyright held by the E. J. Hughes Estate.Use of this material is permitted for research and private study purposes only to the UVic researcher community. For all other uses, contact University of Victoria Special Collections and University Archives.
- Resource Type:
- http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/StillImage
- Extent:
- 1 sheet ; 12 x 14.5 cm
- Additional Physical Characteristics:
- Condition: Very Good, Dozens of equations next to the sketch., and Medium: Graphite
- Physical Repository:
- University of Victoria (B.C.). Library
- Collection:
- E.J. Hughes Collection
- Provider:
- University of Victoria (B.C.). Library
- Genre:
- sketches, pencil drawings, grids (layout features), and drawings (visual works)
- Archival Item Identifier:
- Accession Number: 2024-066 - Sketches
- Fonds Title:
- E. J. Hughes collection
- Fonds Identifier:
- SC606
- Is_referenced_by:
- Special Collections finding aid: https://search.archives.uvic.ca/e-j-hughes-collection
- Date Digitized:
- 2025-11
- Technical Note:
- Scanned on Plustek OpticBook A300 Plus (Tiff; 600 DPI; color; cropped; resized). Larger pieces scanned on Betterlight/TTI (600 DPI; 1/15; 287; copy4Stops; camera height 1000) by LG. Metadata by KD.
22. Untitled [Study of logging truck and Qualicum Beach]
- Title:
- Untitled [Study of logging truck and Qualicum Beach]
- Description:
- Sketch of human figures on beaches and a partial logging truck in the foreground.
- Subject:
- Landscape painting--Technique, Art, Landscape painters, Artists, Painters, Logging trucks, Artists' preparatory studies, Landscape painting, Beaches, Creation (Literary, artistic, etc.), Drawing, Human beings in art, and Landscape painting, Canadian
- Creator:
- Hughes, E. J. (Edward John), 1913-2007
- Language:
- eng
- Date Created:
- 1926?/1967?
- Rights Statement:
- In Copyright - Educational Use Permitted
- License:
- Copyright held by the E. J. Hughes Estate.Use of this material is permitted for research and private study purposes only to the UVic researcher community. For all other uses, contact University of Victoria Special Collections and University Archives.
- Resource Type:
- http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/StillImage
- Extent:
- 1 sheet ; 10.5 x 14.5 cm
- Geographic Coverage:
- British Columbia--Qualicum Beach
- Coordinates:
- 49.34783, -124.44231
- Additional Physical Characteristics:
- Condition: Good, Medium: Graphite, and Notes about what is being portrayed in the sketch and what colours to use where.
- Physical Repository:
- University of Victoria (B.C.). Library
- Collection:
- E.J. Hughes Collection
- Provider:
- University of Victoria (B.C.). Library
- Genre:
- sketches, pencil drawings, and drawings (visual works)
- Archival Item Identifier:
- Accession Number: 2024-066 - Sketches
- Fonds Title:
- E. J. Hughes collection
- Fonds Identifier:
- SC606
- Is_referenced_by:
- Special Collections finding aid: https://search.archives.uvic.ca/e-j-hughes-collection
- Date Digitized:
- 2025-11
- Technical Note:
- Scanned on Plustek OpticBook A300 Plus (Tiff; 600 DPI; color; cropped; resized). Larger pieces scanned on Betterlight/TTI (600 DPI; 1/15; 287; copy4Stops; camera height 1000) by LG. Metadata by KD.
23. Untitled [Three women]
- Title:
- Untitled [Three women]
- Description:
- Three women standing together and leaning on a wall with a sketch of a person's unclothed back on the verso.
- Subject:
- Artists, Human beings in art, Art, Artists' preparatory studies, Landscape painting, Painters, Landscape painting, Canadian, Landscape painters, Landscape painting--Technique, Creation (Literary, artistic, etc.), and Drawing
- Creator:
- Hughes, E. J. (Edward John), 1913-2007
- Language:
- eng
- Date Created:
- 1926?/1967?
- Rights Statement:
- In Copyright - Educational Use Permitted
- License:
- Copyright held by the E. J. Hughes Estate.Use of this material is permitted for research and private study purposes only to the UVic researcher community. For all other uses, contact University of Victoria Special Collections and University Archives.
- Resource Type:
- http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/StillImage
- Extent:
- 1 sheet ; 11.25 x 11 cm
- Additional Physical Characteristics:
- Medium: Graphite and black ink and Condition: Good
- Physical Repository:
- University of Victoria (B.C.). Library
- Collection:
- E.J. Hughes Collection
- Provider:
- University of Victoria (B.C.). Library
- Genre:
- sketches, drawings (visual works), and pencil drawings
- Archival Item Identifier:
- Accession Number: 2024-066 - Sketches
- Fonds Title:
- E. J. Hughes collection
- Fonds Identifier:
- SC606
- Is_referenced_by:
- Special Collections finding aid: https://search.archives.uvic.ca/e-j-hughes-collection
- Date Digitized:
- 2025-11
- Technical Note:
- Scanned on Plustek OpticBook A300 Plus (Tiff; 600 DPI; color; cropped; resized). Larger pieces scanned on Betterlight/TTI (600 DPI; 1/15; 287; copy4Stops; camera height 1000) by LG. Metadata by KD.
24. Untitled [Tree stump on a beach]
- Title:
- Untitled [Tree stump on a beach]
- Description:
- Sketch of a moss covered tree stump on a beach.
- Subject:
- Drawing, Landscape painting--Technique, Art, Trees, Beaches, Painters, Landscape painting, Creation (Literary, artistic, etc.), Landscape painters, Landscape painting, Canadian, Artists, Landscapes, and Artists' preparatory studies
- Creator:
- Hughes, E. J. (Edward John), 1913-2007
- Language:
- eng
- Date Created:
- 1926?/1967?
- Rights Statement:
- In Copyright - Educational Use Permitted
- License:
- Copyright held by the E. J. Hughes Estate.Use of this material is permitted for research and private study purposes only to the UVic researcher community. For all other uses, contact University of Victoria Special Collections and University Archives.
- Resource Type:
- http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/StillImage
- Extent:
- 1 sheet ; 9 x 12 cm
- Additional Physical Characteristics:
- Condition: Fair, Notes of what colours are intended to be used., and Medium: Graphite
- Physical Repository:
- University of Victoria (B.C.). Library
- Collection:
- E.J. Hughes Collection
- Provider:
- University of Victoria (B.C.). Library
- Genre:
- sketches, drawings (visual works), and pencil drawings
- Archival Item Identifier:
- Accession Number: 2024-066 - Sketches
- Fonds Title:
- E. J. Hughes collection
- Fonds Identifier:
- SC606
- Is_referenced_by:
- Special Collections finding aid: https://search.archives.uvic.ca/e-j-hughes-collection
- Date Digitized:
- 2025-11
- Technical Note:
- Scanned on Plustek OpticBook A300 Plus (Tiff; 600 DPI; color; cropped; resized). Larger pieces scanned on Betterlight/TTI (600 DPI; 1/15; 287; copy4Stops; camera height 1000) by LG. Metadata by KD.
25. Untitled [Trees on the shore]
- Title:
- Untitled [Trees on the shore]
- Description:
- Sketch of a body of water with trees along its shore.
- Subject:
- Creation (Literary, artistic, etc.), Landscape painting, Canadian, Trees, Drawing, Art, Landscape painting--Technique, Landscape painters, Beaches, Landscapes, Forests and forestry, Landscape painting, Painters, Artists' preparatory studies, and Artists
- Creator:
- Hughes, E. J. (Edward John), 1913-2007
- Language:
- eng
- Date Created:
- 1926?/1967?
- Rights Statement:
- In Copyright - Educational Use Permitted
- License:
- Copyright held by the E. J. Hughes Estate.Use of this material is permitted for research and private study purposes only to the UVic researcher community. For all other uses, contact University of Victoria Special Collections and University Archives.
- Resource Type:
- http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/StillImage
- Extent:
- 1 sheet ; 11 x 14.5 cm
- Additional Physical Characteristics:
- Medium: Graphite and Condition: Good
- Physical Repository:
- University of Victoria (B.C.). Library
- Collection:
- E.J. Hughes Collection
- Provider:
- University of Victoria (B.C.). Library
- Genre:
- pencil drawings, sketches, and drawings (visual works)
- Archival Item Identifier:
- Accession Number: 2024-066 - Sketches
- Fonds Title:
- E. J. Hughes collection
- Fonds Identifier:
- SC606
- Is_referenced_by:
- Special Collections finding aid: https://search.archives.uvic.ca/e-j-hughes-collection
- Date Digitized:
- 2025-11
- Technical Note:
- Scanned on Plustek OpticBook A300 Plus (Tiff; 600 DPI; color; cropped; resized). Larger pieces scanned on Betterlight/TTI (600 DPI; 1/15; 287; copy4Stops; camera height 1000) by LG. Metadata by KD.
26. Untitled [Two in a canoe]
- Title:
- Untitled [Two in a canoe]
- Description:
- Sketch of two people in a canoe.
- Subject:
- Landscape painting, Canoes and canoeing, Artists' preparatory studies, Human beings in art, Landscape painters, Landscape painting--Technique, Drawing, Creation (Literary, artistic, etc.), Painters, Art, Landscape painting, Canadian, and Artists
- Creator:
- Hughes, E. J. (Edward John), 1913-2007
- Language:
- eng
- Date Created:
- 1926?/1967?
- Rights Statement:
- In Copyright - Educational Use Permitted
- License:
- Copyright held by the E. J. Hughes Estate.Use of this material is permitted for research and private study purposes only to the UVic researcher community. For all other uses, contact University of Victoria Special Collections and University Archives.
- Resource Type:
- http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/StillImage
- Extent:
- 1 sheet ; 10 x 9 cm
- Additional Physical Characteristics:
- Medium: Graphite on tissue and Condition: Good
- Physical Repository:
- University of Victoria (B.C.). Library
- Collection:
- E.J. Hughes Collection
- Provider:
- University of Victoria (B.C.). Library
- Genre:
- sketches, pencil drawings, and drawings (visual works)
- Archival Item Identifier:
- Accession Number: 2024-066 - Sketches
- Fonds Title:
- E. J. Hughes collection
- Fonds Identifier:
- SC606
- Is_referenced_by:
- Special Collections finding aid: https://search.archives.uvic.ca/e-j-hughes-collection
- Date Digitized:
- 2025-11
- Technical Note:
- Scanned on Plustek OpticBook A300 Plus (Tiff; 600 DPI; color; cropped; resized). Larger pieces scanned on Betterlight/TTI (600 DPI; 1/15; 287; copy4Stops; camera height 1000) by LG. Metadata by KD.
27. Untitled [Two people in a canoe studies]
- Title:
- Untitled [Two people in a canoe studies]
- Description:
- Three studies of two people in canoes on bodies of water.
- Subject:
- Drawing, Landscape painters, Canoes and canoeing, Art, Landscape painting, Landscape painting, Canadian, Landscape painting--Technique, Painters, Artists, Creation (Literary, artistic, etc.), and Artists' preparatory studies
- Creator:
- Hughes, E. J. (Edward John), 1913-2007
- Language:
- eng
- Date Created:
- 1926?/1967?
- Rights Statement:
- In Copyright - Educational Use Permitted
- License:
- Copyright held by the E. J. Hughes Estate.Use of this material is permitted for research and private study purposes only to the UVic researcher community. For all other uses, contact University of Victoria Special Collections and University Archives.
- Resource Type:
- http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/StillImage
- Extent:
- 1 sheet ; 9 x 12 cm
- Additional Physical Characteristics:
- Medium: Graphite and One sketch has a grid.
- Physical Repository:
- University of Victoria (B.C.). Library
- Collection:
- E.J. Hughes Collection
- Provider:
- University of Victoria (B.C.). Library
- Genre:
- sketches, grids (layout features), drawings (visual works), and pencil drawings
- Archival Item Identifier:
- Accession Number: 2024-066 - Sketches
- Fonds Title:
- E. J. Hughes collection
- Fonds Identifier:
- SC606
- Is_referenced_by:
- Special Collections finding aid: https://search.archives.uvic.ca/e-j-hughes-collection
- Date Digitized:
- 2025-11
- Technical Note:
- Scanned on Plustek OpticBook A300 Plus (Tiff; 600 DPI; color; cropped; resized). Larger pieces scanned on Betterlight/TTI (600 DPI; 1/15; 287; copy4Stops; camera height 1000) by LG. Metadata by KD.
28. Alert Bay 01
- Title:
- Alert Bay 01
- Description:
- An ink drawing on paper by E. J. Hughes titled "Alert Bay 1" showing several scenes of people on a pier surrounded by buildings.
- Subject:
- Drawing, Bays, Painters, Landscape painting, Piers, Artists, Landscape painting, Canadian, Creation (Literary, artistic, etc.), Landscape painting--Technique, Artists' preparatory studies, Art, and Landscape painters
- Creator:
- Hughes, E. J. (Edward John), 1913-2007
- Language:
- eng
- Date Created:
- 193X/195X
- Rights Statement:
- In Copyright - Educational Use Permitted
- License:
- Copyright held by the E. J. Hughes Estate. Use of this material is permitted for research and private study purposes only to the UVic researcher community. For all other uses, contact University of Victoria Special Collections and University Archives.
- Resource Type:
- http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/StillImage
- Extent:
- 1 sheet ; 20 x 12.5 cm
- Geographic Coverage:
- British Columbia--Alert Bay
- Coordinates:
- 50.58305, -126.91817
- Additional Physical Characteristics:
- Ink on paper.
- Physical Repository:
- University of Victoria (B.C.). Library
- Collection:
- E.J. Hughes Collection
- Provider:
- University of Victoria (B.C.). Library
- Genre:
- pen and ink drawings, drawings (visual works), and sketches
- Archival Item Identifier:
- Accession Number: 2020-043 - Sketches, 1946-1947, 1965; Item: 09
- Fonds Title:
- E. J. Hughes collection
- Fonds Identifier:
- SC606
- Is_referenced_by:
- Special Collections finding aid: https://search.archives.uvic.ca/e-j-hughes-collection
- Date Digitized:
- 2023-09/2023-10
- Technical Note:
- Scanned on Betterligt/TTI (600 DPI; 1/20; 263; Copy4Stops; camera height 1000) by PD. Metadata by KD.
29. Alert Bay 03
- Title:
- Alert Bay 03
- Description:
- A graphite drawing by E. J. Hughes titled "Alert Bay" with trees in the background and a town in the foreground with a street lined with buildings and people. Notes about what colours to use where are included. Signed by Hughes.
- Subject:
- Landscape painting, Canadian, Drawing, Landscape painters, Landscape painting--Technique, Creation (Literary, artistic, etc.), Artists' preparatory studies, Trees in art, Trees, Artists, Cities and towns, Art, Landscape painting, and Painters
- Creator:
- Hughes, E. J. (Edward John), 1913-2007
- Language:
- eng
- Date Created:
- 193X/195X
- Rights Statement:
- In Copyright - Educational Use Permitted
- License:
- Copyright held by the E. J. Hughes Estate. Use of this material is permitted for research and private study purposes only to the UVic researcher community. For all other uses, contact University of Victoria Special Collections and University Archives.
- Resource Type:
- http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/StillImage
- Extent:
- 1 sheet ; 22 x 30.5 cm
- Geographic Coverage:
- British Columbia--Alert Bay
- Coordinates:
- 50.58305, -126.91817
- Additional Physical Characteristics:
- Graphite on paper. Signed by E.J. Hughes.
- Physical Repository:
- University of Victoria (B.C.). Library
- Collection:
- E.J. Hughes Collection
- Provider:
- University of Victoria (B.C.). Library
- Genre:
- drawings (visual works), signatures (names), sketches, and pencil drawings
- Archival Item Identifier:
- Accession Number: 2020-043 - Sketches, 1946-1947, 1965; Item: 63
- Fonds Title:
- E. J. Hughes collection
- Fonds Identifier:
- SC606
- Is_referenced_by:
- Special Collections finding aid: https://search.archives.uvic.ca/e-j-hughes-collection
- Date Digitized:
- 2023-09/2023-10
- Technical Note:
- Scanned on Betterligt/TTI (600 DPI; 1/20; 263; Copy4Stops; camera height 1000) by PD. Metadata by KD.
30. Arbutus
- Title:
- Arbutus
- Description:
- A graphite drawing by E. J. Hughes titled "Arbutus" showing a larger ship with smaller ones around it tied to a pier with trees and shoreline in the background.
- Subject:
- Art, Landscape painting--Technique, Landscape painting, Canadian, Docks, Piers, Landscape painters, Drawing, Artists, Painters, Ships, Ships in art, Artists' preparatory studies, Landscape painting, and Creation (Literary, artistic, etc.)
- Creator:
- Hughes, E. J. (Edward John), 1913-2007
- Language:
- eng
- Date Created:
- 193X/195X
- Rights Statement:
- In Copyright - Educational Use Permitted
- License:
- Copyright held by the E. J. Hughes Estate. Use of this material is permitted for research and private study purposes only to the UVic researcher community. For all other uses, contact University of Victoria Special Collections and University Archives.
- Resource Type:
- http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/StillImage
- Extent:
- 1 sheet ; 23 x 30.5 cm
- Physical Repository:
- University of Victoria (B.C.). Library
- Collection:
- E.J. Hughes Collection
- Provider:
- University of Victoria (B.C.). Library
- Genre:
- sketches, pencil drawings, and drawings (visual works)
- Archival Item Identifier:
- Accession Number: 2020-043 - Sketches, 1946-1947, 1965; Item: 11
- Fonds Title:
- E. J. Hughes collection
- Fonds Identifier:
- SC606
- Is_referenced_by:
- Special Collections finding aid: https://search.archives.uvic.ca/e-j-hughes-collection
- Date Digitized:
- 2023-09/2023-10
- Technical Note:
- Scanned on Betterligt/TTI (600 DPI; 1/20; 263; Copy4Stops; camera height 1000) by PD. Metadata by KD.