Born in Ontario between the World Wars, E. J. Hughes was raised in British Columbia and remained there all his life. E. J. Hughes’s childhood dream of being an artist was deemed an unreliable career for a groom, so he joined the military. When war broke out, Hughes successfully petitioned to become an official war artist and became Canada’s first and only individual to hold this position. Following the war, supported and taught by various members of the Group of Seven, he was able to be the career artist he hoped to be. However, because all his wartime work (sans personal letters to his wife) is held by the Canadian War Museum, a folio of this era in his career was never published until now. As E. J. Hughes's distinguished biographer, Robert Amos has created a stunning portrait of this national icon. High-quality full-colour art plates of his wartime work complement his photographs, illustrations, copies of childhood sketches, and personal letters. Part biography, part art criticism, this text is organized by the geographical location from which he worked—from Fort Macaulay to London, UK, to Alaska to Ottawa. In addition to notes, a bibliography, a list of images, and an index, there are two appendices covering Hughes’s War Service Record and exhibitions of the art he created during World War II. This text is accessible and personal and would appeal to students as a primary source for a History or Art inquiry project.

Other End Matter: Appendix 1–2; Notes; List of Images; About the author
Images: Colour photographs, Colour illustrations, b&w photographs, b&w illustrations
Bibliography: Yes
Index: Yes

Source: Books BC - BC Books for Schools

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

"As an artist in uniform during the Second World War, E. J. Hughes created a profound legacy of war art for future generations to empathize, imagine, and re-imagine the Canadian military experience. In this definitive history of Hughes’s contributions, Robert Amos offers a penetrating study based on unique archival material and a deep analysis into hundreds of wartime works of art. The war shaped Hughes, leading to period of great creativity that propelled him forward to become one of Canada’s most recognized west coast artists." —Tim Cook, The Fight for History: 75 Years of Forgetting, Remembering, and Remaking of Canada’s Second World War

"Amos guides readers on an incredible visual journey into Hughes’ wartime experiences . . . the stunning images inside make the volume a wonderful coffee table book for any military history enthusiast or admirer of Canadiana art." —Canadian Military History

A fascinating combination of art, memoir, and history as seen through the eyes of the artist . . . immensely captivating." —PubWest Book Design Award judges panel

"Amos’ book deepens our appreciation for Hughes’ craft and enriches our understanding of Hughes’ vision during a critical time in history.” —Dr. Susan E. Parker, UBC’s University Librarian

"Rich in detail and imagery, including many meticulous field sketches." —Galleries West

"The latest in Canadian publisher TouchWood Editions’ award-winning series showcases the Canadian landscape painter’s time as a prolific war artist during the Second World War." —Zoomer

"The third volume in an award-winning series, the book features 70 artworks from the Canadian War Museum’s holdings—many of them depicting convoys, artillery, and camp life—as well as personal photos and sketches from the Hughes’s records." —Stir