| BRITISH COLUMBIA ARTISTS |
In 1933 Leighton illustrated a little book published by the Empress Hotel, Victoria B.C., titled "Victoria B.C. - City of Enchantment in Canada's Evergreen Playground". The 32 page book was written by Lady Willison, with Leighton providing ten colour reproductions of his paintings of Victoria and the Empress Hotel.
In 1934 he had work in the RCA's 55th Annual exhibition, held at the Art Gallery of Ontario.
In 1934 Leighton had a solo exhibition of his watercolours at the Vancouver Art Gallery. He had another exhibition at the Art Gallery in 1935, information at the gallery noting that the exhibition catalogue for the 1935 show was from the University of Alberta exhibition.
Leighton and his wife Barbara also lived in British Columbia for a while, at Crescent Beach and at one point even owning a farm in Chilliwack. He regularly exhibited his work at the Royal Academy in England, as well as shows in Canada. He was elected Associate of the Royal Canadian Academy in 1935.
Leighton's wife Barbara was also an artist, who exhibited under the name Barleigh. She created a series of woodcut prints using her husband's watercolours as the original images.
In 1935, Arthur Lismer, one of the members of the Group
of Seven, was traveling through Western Canada on a lecture tour with more than one purpose,
and he noted in a confidential report to the National Gallery his
comments about Leighton:
"At the art school in Calgary, which is in the Technical School, the work is under the
direction of Mr. Leighton and is evidently the only kind of organized art instruction
in the province. From what I saw it is somewhat academic, which in itself is not a bad
thing but old fashioned and not stimulating or productive of much art interest.
On the other hand there is no doubt that Mr. Leighton's activities have had a far-reaching
influence, especially his outdoor school in the summer, which this year has been placed
under the department of Education and the Calgary Technical schools."
In 1939 Leighton's painting was selected "Best of Show" at the World's Fair in New York.
He had two watercolours in the B.C. Society of Fine Arts annual exhibition in 1942.
Leighton died in Calgary in 1965.
SOLO EXHIBITIONS
| DATE | EXHIBITION | LOCATION |
| 1934 May 18 - 27 | Watercolours | Vancouver Art Gallery |
| 1935 May 3 - 12 | Exhibition of Pictures | Vancouver Art Gallery |
| DATE | EXHIBITION | ARTWORK |
| 1942 May 15 - 31 | BCSFA 32nd Annual | The Bridge, Grinton, Yorkshire |
| Eltham, Kent |
AN EXHIBITION OF OUR COLLECTION OF EARLY WESTERN CANADIAN WATERCOLORS (refer to UL78)
BEYOND THE CANVAS - Artists, Stories and the Sea (refer to VMM00)
THE DICTIONARY OF BRITISH ARTISTS 1880 - 1940 (refer to DBA76)
THE SHELL CANADA COLLECTION (refer to SHEL77)
A DICTIONARY OF CANADIAN ARTISTS (refer to M)
CREATIVE CANADA - Volumes One & Two (refer to CC71)
Includes one full column of information about Leighton.
THE MOUNTAINS AND THE SKY by Lorne E. Render
1974, Glenbow-Alberta Institute; published by McClelland and Stewart West
ISBN 0-7712-1001-2; 224 pages, illustrated throughout in colour and b&w
Includes biographical information on Leighton and four of his paintings illustrated
ROYAL CANADIAN ACADEMY OF ARTS - EXHIBITIONS & MEMBERS 1880 - 1979
(refer to RCA81)
Lists seven RCA exhibitions of Leighton's work from 1931 - 1938.
ARTISTS IN CANADA 1982 - UNION LIST OF ARTISTS' FILES (refer to AIC82)
ALBERTA SOCIETY OF ARTISTS - THE FIRST SEVENTY YEARS
2000, by Kathy E. Zimon; illustrated b&w with colour section at end
University of Calgary Press; ISBN 1-55238-034-3
Includes list of members, executive, exhibitors in selected exhibitions, index
Includes a chapter on Leighton
BIOGRAPHICAL INDEX OF ARTISTS IN CANADA (refer to BIAC03)
16 references listed for Leighton.
THE BOW - LIVING WITH A RIVER, edited by Gerald T. Conaty
Includes essays by G.T. Conaty, Daryl Betenia, Catharine Mastin
2004; ISBN 1-55263-634-8; Glenbow Museum, published by Key Porter Books Ltd.
160 pages, hardcover; extensively illustrated with artwork and historical photographs
Includes essays, select artist biographies, art and general bibliographies, index
Artwork by western artists includes Leighton
ART INSPIRED BY THE CANADIAN ROCKIES, PURCELL MOUNTAINS AND SELKIRK MOUNTAINS 1809-2012 (refer to TOWN12)
"Another English artist who has recently settled in the West is A.C. Leighton.
He visited Canada first in 1925, and since 1929 has been a teacher of art at the
Calgary Institute of Technology. He is a water-colour painter of ability, and has painted
the prairies and mountains with a fine feeling for colour and luminosity. In 1929 he
was elected a member of the Royal Society of British Artists (England), and in
1931 was one of the founder members of the Alberta Society of Artists, becoming the
first President of this newly formed society."
From Canadian Landscape Painters, Albert H. Robson; page 186
The Ryerson Press, Toronto, 1932
"Leighton Art Exhibit"
Vancouver Sun, May 17 1934
"Leighton Exhibit of Watercolours Very Attractive"
Financial News, May 25 1934
"Water Color Exhibition"
Vancouver Sun, April 25 1935
" ... together with oil and watercolour paintings by A.C. Leighton ...
all contribute much to this extraordinary show."
From "B.C. Society of Fine Arts
Display Sets New High Mark" by Palette
Vancouver Province, May 16 1942