A landmark piece of British Columbia's artistic heritage has shattered records, with E.J. Hughes's painting "Entrance to Howe Sound" selling for an astounding $4,801,250. The sale took place at a Heffel auction in Toronto on November 19, 2025, establishing a new benchmark as the highest price ever paid for an artwork by a B.C. artist.
A Masterpiece from a Prime Period
The record-breaking canvas, painted by Hughes in 1949, is based on a graphite sketch the artist created over a decade earlier in 1937. The work captures a serene yet powerful view of a small, tree-covered island set against the wavy blue waters of Howe Sound. A Union Steamship vessel is depicted sailing by, with the dramatic backdrop of dark, looming mountains.
David Heffel, who runs the auction house with his brother Robert, described the painting as a "blockbuster, from his prime period," underscoring its significance within Hughes's celebrated body of work.
Breaking Records and Setting Precedents
This monumental sale eclipses the previous record for a B.C. artist, which was held by Emily Carr's "The Crazy Stair (The Crooked Staircase)." That painting sold for $3,393,000 at a Heffel auction back in 2013. Furthermore, it more than doubles the previous auction record for an E.J. Hughes painting; his 1946 work "Fishboats, Rivers Inlet" fetched $2,041,250 at a Heffel sale in 2018.
The auction itself began with tremendous energy, featuring 27 works from the esteemed Hudson's Bay Company art collection. Every single one of the HBC paintings sold for more than its pre-auction estimate. The standout was Sir Winston Churchill's 1935 painting, "Marrakech," which sold for $1,561,250—more than two and a half times its high estimate.
"There was global interest in it," noted David Heffel. "The good news is it was sold to a Canadian."
A Fitting Home for an Idyllic Painting
"Entrance to Howe Sound" originated from the Lillian Mayland McKimm Collection. In a poignant twist of timing, McKimm passed away at the remarkable age of 100 shortly before the Vancouver preview for the auction began. She had recently received congratulatory letters from the King of England, the Prime Minister, and the Governor General for her centennial birthday.
McKimm, who was originally from Calgary but had lived on Vancouver Island since the 1970s, displayed the Hughes painting in an ideal setting. Heffel shared that it hung "above her mantelpiece, overlooking the waterfront on a beautiful 10-acre property in Sidney. It was an idyllic setting for an idyllic painting."
The sale not only cements E.J. Hughes's legacy but also highlights the vibrant and competitive nature of the Canadian art market, where historic works continue to find new appreciation and command unprecedented prices.
