A painting by reknowned Vancouver Island artist EJ Hughes brought in more than $1 million at a Vancouver art auction on May 17.
The oil on canvas — Coastal Boats near Sidney, BC — sold for $1,140,750 at a live auction of Canadian Post-War and Contemporary Art at the Vancouver Convention Centre West.
The painting shows coastal steamers that sailed between Victoria, Nanaimo and Vancouver, the predecessors to BC Ferries.
The colourful work was originally sold for $300 to the College of Physicians and Surgeons 60 years ago by Hughes himself.
Hughes died of a heart attack in 2007 at the age of 93.
One of Hughes’ other pieces at the auction — Mouth of the Courtenay River — sold for $789,750
