The Painted Life of E.J. Hughes

Since his death in 2007, the renown of Canadian painter E.J. Hughes has only continued to grow. For decades, his extraordinary works highlighting the landscapes of British Columbia have captivated the public, but his personal life is less well known. A solitary man dedicated to his art, Hughes led a fascinating life, struggling to make ends meet until a discovery of his work led to its acclaim. Having attempted to work as a fisherman during the Depression, he became a war artist during the Second World War and never gave up his passion for painting, even when devotedly caring for his ailing wife.

Drawing from recorded tape interviews and painstaking work from biographer Robert Amos, director Jenn Strom focuses her documentary on Hughes’s personal story while integrating critical receptions to his artwork. Through absorbing explorations into Canadian history and a look at Hughes’s legacy not only as an artist but as a person, a beautiful portrait emerges of a gentle soul who helped to reshape the artistic landscape of British Columbia.

Feb 17: Q&A with director Jenn Strom and producer Kevin Eastwood