The Artist
"There is something about painting that is very hard to isolate, to pin down. It is that something extra a photograph doesn't quite catch."

Landscape painter E. Colin Williams was born and educated in Britain. He was fortunate enough to be in London during the 1960's, an exciting time for innovation in the arts. After receiving the National Diploma in Design from Sunderland College of Art, Williams studies at the Royal College of Art in London and earned the title of Associate of the Royal College (A.R.C.A.) in 1961. He and him family then emigrated to Australia, where he taught at the National School of Art in Sydney for seven years.

In 1969, Williams was invited to the Banff Centre as an artist in residence. It was an opportunity he and his family had been waiting for, and since that time they have called Canada home. Living first in Alberta, then in Ganges on Salt Spring Island, and now in Victoria, BC, has allowed him to work as a full-time painter.

While most of Williams' work is in a representational style, he occasionally moved towards the semi-abstract. Most frequently painting in oil, he works in all media, and his subjects tend to be drawn from the rich and varied environment of his west coast surroundings. His paintings are to be found in many public collections internationally, as well as in numerous corporate exhibits.

The Art
In a panoramic view of Chemainus Harbour, this mural captures the colourful memories of the old logging town. Lumber is stacked up along the far hill, waiting to be loaded onto the tall ships and steamers at anchor in the bay. Chemainus Hospital appears on the left.

At the time, the town was a stable community, far past it pioneering stage. The telephone had arrived in 1908. Four churches served the spiritual needs of residents, and Chemainus boasted the best baseball team in the region. It was a time of quiet progress after the boom years of mining exploration in the valley.