Paintings, Drawings, and Prints

The collection focuses on representational, two-dimensional imagery. Many artworks present BC settlement and settler renditions of Indigenous societies. They also depict maritime and overland exploration, trade and gold rushes. Significant collections by women artists include landscapes and botanical subjects. Other artworks range from land- and seascapes, portraiture, architectural renderings, industrial and survey art, and early graphic design.

Foundational pieces acquired by the province include early engravings from late eighteenth century coastal expeditions and portraiture of settler society. Provincial archivists actively solicited works of art through purchase and donation, including paintings by Frederic Marlett Bell-Smith, Grafton Tyler Brown, Nan Cheney, William Hind, E. J. Hughes, Judith Morgan and Ina Uhthoff. Major donations include approximately 3,000 works by five artists in the Crease family, and works by Emily Carr. The Royal BC Museum and Archives has the world’s largest holdings of work by Emily Carr. These include 200 major works, 900 works on paper (mainly sketches and sketch books), 24 pottery pieces and 2 hooked rugs.

Many of these works have been described in our BC Archives collections search and more than 6,000 have a digital image available. You can search the entirety of these records by entering PDP into the basic search bar. The Archives also maintains vertical files that can be accessed in the reading room. These include BC artists, the BC Society of Fine Artists (1909-1962), the Island Arts and Crafts Society, the Royal Canadian Academy of Arts, Vancouver Art Gallery Annual Exhibitions (1902-1968), and illustrated newspapers.