Weston painting in England (family photo)
| BRITISH COLUMBIA ARTISTS |
His painting November was reproduced in the February 15, 1918 issue of the Studio Magazine, published in London, England (see also 1919 review by McEvoy below).
Weston exhibited extensively for many years with the B.C. Society of Fine Arts, from 1909 to 1930, from 1936 through to 1962, and in the group's final exhibition in 1967. The 1930 exhibition catalogue noted that he was on the Society's Executive Committee.
Weston exhibited in Victoria with the Island Arts and Crafts Society in 1913 and from 1927 to 1930.
The 1922-1923 issue of the Provincial Normal School annual noted the following
about Weston on "The Faculty" page:
"An artist - but we need say no more, for his deeds and not our words have
forever left their imprint upon the minds of the classes of our year - we
have all struggled for the result which is at once so simple and yet so difficult
to obtain.
One of the things which we like most about Mr. Weston is his genuineness. A
blob of colour is a "blob of colour" and a bunch is a "bunch"."
In the same catalogue, on the "From the Faculty Page", Weston noted:
"Much of our knowledge and pleasure is gained through the eye.
The eye, however, must work and see with intelligence. Drawing constitutes a
measure of our ability to see a thing completely and intelligently, hence its
value in general education."
Weston taught Class III in 1922-23, and the class page included the following
little poem on page 25:
Little daubs of crayon,
Little daubs of paint.
Make Class III's B. B.
Just what it ain't.
On page 56 of the 1922-23 Normal School Annual, it was noted that the Annual Dance was to be held in the gymnasium, but "not the gymnasium in its ordinary, barren, week-day school dress, but a veritable fairy-land, transformed under Mr. Weston's artistic direction. The room was adorned with rose and green streamers, and the lights, enclosed in dainty, flowerlike shades, cast a soft radiance over all. A special feature of the decorations was a large yellow moon hung over the balcony, which added a most realistic touch to the Moonlight waltzes by shedding its moonbeams over the throng of dancers."
Weston was also included in the Humor pages of the 1922-23 Normal School
annual:
Mr. Weston: We'll take this period for catching up on anything you are behind in.
Bergie: Alright, Mr. Weston, I am going to catch up on my sleep.
z-z-z-z-z-z-z
Also:
Mr. W___n: What is righteous anger?
Student: Being angry without swearing.
Under the heading of "Pedagogical Psalms:"
Mr. Weston: "I am as a wonder unto many." Ps. 71.7
Included in a poem about the Normal School are the following lines about
Weston:
Then we see the drawing master,
See the great man, Mr. Weston;
Just a touch of brush on paper,
See! look! but it is so simple!
And we look, but in amazement.
Then he shows us very clearly,
Just how simple is the method.
How each step blends with the other.
And lastly:
Cook (to Mr. Weston): "I hear they are going to magnetize the rear axle
of the Ford."
"What's the idea?"
"So it will pick up the parts that drop off."
He exhibited in the Seattle Art Museum's annual Northwest Artists exhibition in 1930.
He had work in the annual B.C. Artists exhibitions at the Vancouver Art Gallery in the inaugural 1932 exhibition, and in 1933, 1939, 1940, 1942, 1944, 1945, and 1947. He also showed work at the Vancouver Exhibition in 1924, 1925, and 1930.
Weston was made an Associate of the Royal Canadian Academy in 1936. He has been mistakenly identified as the first artist of Western Canada to be so honoured, but in fact Sophie Pemberton was made an Associate in 1906. Weston was one of 31 Charter members of the Canadian Group of Painters, the successor organization to the Group of Seven and the Group of Eleven, and exhibited in their first group show in Atlantic City, sponsored by Heinz.
Weston was on the Faculty at the Provincial Normal School for many years.
The 1932-33 School Annual gave the following insights into his teaching:
MR. WESTON
"His pencil was striking, resistless, and grand;
His manners were gentle, complying and bland;
Still born to improve us in every part,
His pencil our faces - his manners our heart."
"As our training at Normal draws to a close, we, the members of Class III, begin to realize how deeply indebted we are to our class teacher, Mr. Weston. His unfailing encouragement and boundless enthusiasm have been a great help to us all. Even those students who were sure that the drawing of such things as birds, animals and fish was far beyond their ability have been able to produce some remarkable results."
He was also included in one of the jokes on the "Alleged Humor" page:
A Lady Member of the Sketch Club: "How do you make eyes, Mr. Weston?"
Mr. Weston: "How should I know? I'm a married man."
Weston was one of the Faculty members who looked after the Normal School's Outdoor Club, which made trips to local scenic spots such as Grouse Mountain, Hollyburn Ridge, and Seymour Creek. He also sponsored the Normal School's Sketch Club, both assisting the group and sketching with them. The 1932-33 school annual also a reproduction of one of his pen and ink Christmas cards of Grouse Mountain on the page for the Sketch Club.
In 1934 he had work in the RCA's 55th Annual exhibition, held at the Art Gallery of Ontario.
The Spring 1936 edition of The Smock Pocket, the Vancouver School of Art Graduates' Association newsletter, noted that Weston was one of three jurors for the association's Fourth Annual Exhibition.
In 1938 he exhibited a painting in the 55th Annual Spring Exhibition of the Art Association of Montreal. His address was given as 1045 West 15th Ave., Vancouver in the exhibition catalogue. In 1939 he exhibited at the New York World's Fair. He also exhibited at the Tate Gallery, London England, and the Toronto Art Gallery.
In 1941 he had work in the RCA's 62nd Annual exhibition, held at the Art Association of Montreal.
He exhibited with the B.C. Society of Fine Arts in their 39th Annual Exhibition in 1949.
He submitted four linocuts to the 1949 B.C. Graphic exhibition at the Vancouver Art Gallery, two of them were selected for the exhibition.
SOLO EXHIBITIONS
| DATE | EXHIBITION | LOCATION |
| 1934 Sept. 21 - 30 | Paintings and Drawings | Vancouver Art Gallery |
| 1938 July 12 - 27 | Six Local Artists | Vancouver Art Gallery |
| 1941 April 8 - 20 | Solo Exhibition | Vancouver Art Gallery |
| 1944 November | Solo Exhibition | Coste House, Calgary |
| 1945 May 1 - 17 | Solo Show (31 pictures) | Vancouver Art Gallery |
| 1946 Nov. 12 - Dec. 1 | Solo Exhibition | Vancouver Art Gallery |
| 1959 April - May | 50 Years of Painting in BC (54 pictures) | Vancouver Art Gallery |
| 1966 Sept. 12 - ? | Solo Exhibition (24 pictures) | Vancouver Arts Club |
| DATE | EXHIBITION | ARTWORK |
| 1909 Oct. 27 - Nov. 6 | Studio Club Autumn Exhibition | Wimbledon Commons |
| The North Arm - Summer Evening | ||
| 1909 November | BCSFA Second Exhibition | A Village Church |
| Perranporth, Cornwall | ||
| Portrait of Mr. W. Weston | ||
| Head of Lake Windermere | ||
| 1910 May | BCSFA Third Exhibition | Eastbourne from Beachy Head |
| Sunset Effects | ||
| On the Cornish Coast | ||
| Fairy Folk | ||
| 1911 November | BCSFA Fall Exhibition | Birch Woods, Autumn |
| Birch Woods, Spring | ||
| The Spring | ||
| 1912 Nov. 25 - 30 | BCSFA Annual Exhibition | Morning |
| Babbacombe Cove | ||
| Sunset | ||
| Granville Market | ||
| Toronto Exhibition Grounds | ||
| Coniston | ||
| 1915 April | BCSFA Works by Members | Cornish Cliffs |
| Twilight, Toronto Exhibition Grounds | ||
| A Squally Day | ||
| Portrait of my Father | ||
| Horseshoe Bay | ||
| Moonrise | ||
| A Sunny Day | ||
| Nanaimo - The Mill | ||
| Eastbourne from Beachy Head | ||
| 1916 September | BCSFA Annual Exhibition | Full Moon |
| 1917 Sept. 14 - 22 | BCSFA Eleventh Exhibition | Summer Calm |
| At Anchor | ||
| The Burner | ||
| On The Wharf, Gibson's Landing | ||
| Winter | ||
| November | ||
| 1920 September 18 - 25 | BCSFA Annual Exhibition | From Mount Tolmie |
| Moonrise, Cadboro Bay | ||
| The Cliff | ||
| The Beach | ||
| Launch, Coughlan's | ||
| Fresh Breeze Off Gordon Head | ||
| 1921 Sept. 19 - 24 | BCSFA 13th Annual | Evening, Oak Bay |
| Dead Calm in the Gulf | ||
| Birch Trees | ||
| Sunset | ||
| Soames' Point | ||
| Summer Afternoon | ||
| Sunset Glow, Cadboro Bay | ||
| A Frosty Morning, Sunrise | ||
| 1922 Sept. 16 - 23 | BCSFA 14th Annual | From the Hill Top, Victoria |
| Soames Point | ||
| Through the Trees, Grantham's Landing | ||
| Morning Mist | ||
| Sunset Through Smoke | ||
| A Summer Night | ||
| 1923 May 12 - 19 | BCSFA 15th Annual | The Close of Day |
| Winter | ||
| Becalmed | ||
| 'Round the Mark, Dinghy Race | ||
| Sunset, Little Mountain | ||
| 1924 May 3 - 17 | BCSFA 16th Annual | Summer Morning, Grantham's |
| A Camp, Grantham's | ||
| Dingman's Cove, Gabriola | ||
| Gibson's Landing | ||
| Doris | ||
| 1924 Aug. 9 - 16 | Vancouver Exhibition Annual Exhibition | Summer, Howe Sound |
| 1925 May 9 - 16 | BCSFA 17th Annual | Soames Beach, Howe Sound |
| A Windy Day, Sea Island | ||
| A Sketch, Winter | ||
| The Passing Squall | ||
| The Cloud | ||
| Sunset, Deep Cove | ||
| The Waterfront, Victoria | ||
| Sunshine and Snow, Kamloops | ||
| Autumn, Marine Drive | ||
| 1926 May 8 - 15 | BCSFA 18th Annual | Trolling |
| Sun Rising Through Fog | ||
| Fog, Frost and Sunshine | ||
| Yacht Race, English Bay | ||
| 1927 June 10 - 25 | BCSFA 19th Annual | The Lions |
| From Mt. Douglas | ||
| Yacht Race, English Bay | ||
| Shadows | ||
| Winter | ||
| Landscape | ||
| The Avenue, Normal School | ||
| The Court Yard, Normal School | ||
| 1928 Feb 18 - Mar 18 | Palette and Chisel Club Exhibition | Shadows |
| 1929 May 18 - June 8 | BCSFA 21st Annual | Grouse Mountain - Winter |
| The Sentinel | ||
| In Howe Sound | ||
| Mt. Brunswick | ||
| Fallen Giant | ||
| The Western Lion, Sunset | ||
| Soames Ranch | ||
| Hollyburn Ridge | ||
| Twin Peaks | ||
| The Western Lion (Afternoon) | ||
| 1929 Nov. 16 - 30 | BCSFA Winter Exhibition | Road to Swartz |
| Evening, Howe Sound | ||
| Garrow Bay | ||
| Solitude | ||
| Pines | ||
| Mt. Baker | ||
| Mountains, Copper Cove | ||
| Rocks, Whytecliffe | ||
| 1930 May 31 - June 14 | BCSFA Spring Exhibition | Totems |
| The Lions | ||
| Grouse Mountain | ||
| Crown Mountain | ||
| Scrub Pines, Howe Sound | ||
| Cheam, Chilliwack | ||
| Snow Shadows | ||
| 1930 Aug. 6 - 16 | VanExh Oil Paintings & Water-colours | Cheam |
| Oaks | ||
| 1930 Aug. 22 - Sept. 6 | CNE Graphic Art | Totems (ink) |
| The Summit (drawing) | ||
| 1932 May - July | VAG All Canadian Exhibition | Scrub Pines, West Coast |
| Peaks of Silence | ||
| Study | ||
| Study | ||
| 1932 Aug. 26 - Sept. 10 | CNE Graphic Art | Yacht Race (ink) |
| Fisherman's Bay (pen) | ||
| Snow Shadows (pen) | ||
| The Peak (pen) | ||
| 1932 Oct. 5 - 30 | VAG B.C. Artists 1st Annual | Finis |
| Summer Evening | ||
| Pines | ||
| Snow Shadows | ||
| 1933 June 3 - 11 | VAG BCSFA 23rd Annual | Survival |
| Cheam | ||
| Forest Sentinel | ||
| 1933 Sept. 22 - Oct. 15 | VAG B.C. Artists 2nd Annual | Jotunheim |
| Winter Solitude | ||
| Devil's Club | ||
| Peaks | ||
| 1935 Sept. 20 - Oct. 15 | VAG B.C. Artists 4th Annual | Beached |
| 1936 June 26 - July 12 | BCSFA 26th Annual | Battle Scarred |
| Mount Shukshan | ||
| Whytecliffe | ||
| The Summit | ||
| The Far Place | ||
| 1937 April 16 - May 1 | BCSFA 27th Annual | Shadows |
| Gleneagles | ||
| Windswept | ||
| The Gravel Pit | ||
| Pen Drawing | ||
| 1938 Mar. 17 - Apr. 10 | AAM 55th Spring Exhibition | Gleneagles |
| 1938 April 29 - May 15 | BCSFA 28th Annual | Winter Phantasy |
| Life Force | ||
| Erosion | ||
| Flood Tide | ||
| Church Mountain | ||
| 1938 Aug. 26 - Sept. 10 | CNE Canadian Fine Art | Shadows |
| 1939 May 1 - June (15) | New York World's Fair | (titles?) |
| 1939 June 9 - 25 | BCSFA 29th Annual | Hill-top |
| Old Age | ||
| Mt. Klitsa | ||
| Tide Flats | ||
| Tree Study | ||
| 1939 Aug. 25 - Sept. 9 | CNE Canadian Fine Art | High Olympus |
| 1939 Sept. 15 - Oct. 8 | VAG B.C. Artists 8th Annual | Mt. Klitsa |
| Tree Study | ||
| Mt. Douglas | ||
| 1940 May 17 - June 2 | BCSFA 30th Annual | Mt. Baker |
| Anvil Island | ||
| Shadows | ||
| Horse-Shoe Bay | ||
| Church Mountains | ||
| Garrow Bay | ||
| 1940 Sept. 20 - Oct. 13 | VAG B.C. Artists 9th Annual | Horseshoe Bay |
| Eagle Harbour | ||
| 1941 May 10 - June 1 | BCSFA 31st Annual | Coast Scene |
| Snow Rhythm | ||
| Dead Pine | ||
| Tommy's Shack, Yale | ||
| Hope, B.C. | ||
| 1942 May 15 - 31 | BCSFA 32nd Annual | Spring |
| November Mists | ||
| The White Church, Vancouver Island | ||
| Swamp | ||
| Yale, B.C. | ||
| 1942 July 7 - Sept. 2 | VAG B.C. Artists 1st Annual Summer | Spring |
| Horseshoe Bay | ||
| 1942 Sept. 25 - Oct. 18 | VAG B.C. Artists 11th Annual | Evening |
| 1942 Nov. 3 - 15 | FCA Red Cross Benefit | (no information available) |
| 1943 May 15 - June 6 | BCSFA 33rd Annual | Abandoned Gravel Pit |
| Arbutus | ||
| Devil's Club | ||
| Beach Study | ||
| 1943 July 2 - Aug. 25 | VAG B.C. Artists 2nd Annual Summer | Devil's Club |
| Arbutus | ||
| 1944 May 13 - June 4 | BCSFA 34th Annual | Winter Garden |
| The Close of Day | ||
| Cradle of Clouds | ||
| Foxglove | ||
| 1944 July 4 - Aug. 30 | VAG B.C. Artists 3rd Annual Summer | The White Church, V.I. |
| Foxgloves | ||
| 1944 Sept. 23 - Oct. 22 | VAG B.C. Artists 13th Annual | Golden Ears |
| 1945 May 18 - June 10 | BCSFA 35th Annual | Glacier Mountain (1) Thunder Weather |
| Glacier Mountain (2) Slocan Lake | ||
| 1945 July 3 - Aug. 26 | VAG B.C. Artists 4th Annual Summer | Golden Ears |
| 1945 Sept. 22 - Oct. 21 | VAG B.C. Artists 14th Annual | Mt. Denver |
| 1946 May 31 - June 23 | BCSFA 36th Annual | Swamp Lanterns |
| Afternoon, Slocan Lake | ||
| Mt. Denver, 5 a.m. | ||
| 1946 July 2 - 28 | VAG Jubilee Exhibition | Yale, B.C. |
| 1947 May 9 - June 1 | BCSFA 37th Annual | Castor-Oil Plant |
| Red Mountain, New Denver, B.C. | ||
| 1947 July 8 - 27 | VAG B.C. Artists Summer Exhibition | Castor Oil Plant |
| Gleneagles | ||
| 1947 Sept. 20 - Oct. 12 | VAG B.C. Artists 16th Annual | Unnamed Peak |
| 1948 May 18 -June 6 | BCSFA 38th Annual | Trail |
| Arbutus | ||
| Mt. Roderick | ||
| 1949 May 3 - 22 | BCSFA 39th Annual | Anvil Island |
| Defiance | ||
| Mt. Peak, Coast Range | ||
| Kew Beach | ||
| Yale | ||
| 1949 Nov. 22 - Dec. 11 | VAG First B.C. Graphic | Old Tree, Mt. Baker |
| Cheam | ||
| Fisherman's Bay (rejected) | ||
| Mountain Forms (rejected) | ||
| 1950 April 25 - May 14 | BCSA 40th Annual | Cornish Coast 1910 |
| Cedar Stump | ||
| 1951 April 24 - May 13 | VAG BCSA 41st Annual | Mt. Garibaldi |
| Golden Ears, Pitt Lake | ||
| 1951 Summer | Park Royal BCSA Summer Exhibition | Kew Beach |
| Mount Garibaldi | ||
| Cedar Stump | ||
| Castor Oil Plant | ||
| Snow Rhythm | ||
| 1952 April 1 - 20 | VAG BCSA 42nd Annual | Log Pattern Copper Cove |
| Old Fir, Whytecliffe | ||
| Western Lion from Howe Sound | ||
| 1953 May 5 - 31 | VAG BCSA 43rd Annual | Beach Pattern, Copper Cove |
| Above Slocan Lake, B.C. | ||
| Windswept Tree, Victoria | ||
| 1954 May 25 - June 13 | VAG BCSA 44th Annual | Mamquam, Squamish B.C. |
| Mt. Whitecap, Coast Range | ||
| 1955 April 26 - May 15 | VAG BCSA 45th Annual | The Sky Pilot |
| Keremeos | ||
| 1956 Feb. 28 - March 18 | VAG BCSA 46th Annual | The Lonely Church, Spence's Bridge |
| Spring, Okanagan Lake | ||
| Old Pine Trees | ||
| 1957 March 5 - 24 | VAG BCSA 47th Annual | Atlin |
| On the Alaska Highway | ||
| Old Fir, Victoria, B.C. | ||
| 1958 Feb. 4 - 22 | VAG BCSA 48th Annual | Keremeos |
| Trinity Mountain, Fernie, B.C. |
SOUVENIR CATALOGUE OF EXHIBITIONS OPENING THE NEW VANCOUVER ART GALLERY (refer to VAG51)
100 YEARS OF B.C. ART (refer to VAG58)
CONTEMPORARIES OF EMILY CARR IN BRITISH COLUMBIA (refer to SFU74)
VANCOUVER: ART & ARTISTS 1931 - 1983 (refer to VAG83)
IMAGES OF THE LAND - CANADIAN BLOCK PRINTS 1919 - 1945 (refer to GLEN84)
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BRITISH COLUMBIA (refer to EBC00)
BEYOND THE CANVAS - Artists, Stories and the Sea (refer to VMM00)
DAILY GRIND EXHIBITIONS (refer to DG04)
A MODERN LIFE: Art and Design in British Columbia 1945-1960 (refer to VAG04)
RICHMOND ART GALLERY 25:25 - 1980-2005 (refer to RAG05)
SHORE, FOREST AND BEYOND - ART FROM THE AUDAIN COLLECTION (refer to VAG11)
COTTAGES TO COMMUNITIES (refer to WVHS11)
MANUAL OF DRAWING AND DESIGN FOR ELEMENTARY AND HIGH SCHOOLS
by W.P. Weston, Charles H. Scott,
S.P. Judge
1925, Authorized by the Dept. of Education of B.C.; Nelson & Sons, Toronto
Text and illustrations by Judge, Scott, and Weston; edited by Charles H. Scott
THE ANNUAL - PROVINCIAL NORMAL SCHOOL 1932 - 1933
Published by the Provincial Normal School, Vancouver B.C.
80 pages; illustrated with black and white drawings and photographs
Includes article on Normal School Sketch Club, and notes and
one illustration by Normal School Art Master Weston page 58.
WHO'S WHO IN NORTHWEST ART (refer to WWNA41)
BRITISH COLUMBIA - A CENTENNIAL ANTHOLOGY (refer to BCCA58)
THE FINE ARTS IN VANCOUVER, 1886 - 1930 (refer to THOM69)
CREATIVE CANADA - Volumes One & Two (refer to CC71)
Includes 2/3 column of information about Weston.
ISLAND ARTS AND CRAFTS SOCIETY - LIST OF EXHIBITORS
FROM DESOLATION TO SPLENDOUR (refer to FDTS77)
ROYAL CANADIAN ACADEMY OF ARTS - EXHIBITIONS & MEMBERS 1880 - 1979 (refer to RCA81)
KATHARINE EMMA MALTWOOD - ARTIST (refer to UVIC81)
ARTISTS IN CANADA 1982 - UNION LIST OF ARTISTS' FILES (refer to AIC82)
MONTREAL MUSEUM OF FINE ARTS - SPRING EXHIBITIONS 1880 - 1970 (refer to MM88)
ART BC, MASTERWORKS FROM BRITISH COLUMBIA by Ian M. Thom
2000, Douglas & McIntyre Ltd., ISBN 1-55054-808-5
232 pages illustrated in colour and b&w
Includes historical essays, biographical notes, index.
BIOGRAPHICAL INDEX OF ARTISTS IN CANADA (refer to BIAC03)
12 references cited for Weston
THE FECKLESS COLLECTION (refer to FECK18)
GREATER VANCOUVER ART GALLERIES 1954-2020 (refer to GVAG20)
3 references to Weston
VANCOUVER PUBLIC LIBRARY - B.C. ARTISTS FILES (refer to VPL)
"W.P. Weston is a new - and a welcome artist in Vancouver. "The North Arm -
Summer Evening" (51), is good."
From "Vancouver Studio Club" by Felix Penne
B.C. Saturday Sunset, November 6 1909
"W.P. Weston is another member of the organization, who is engaged in teaching.
He is an artist of considerable capacity, and in some of his seascapes displays a
power and vision which have made his contributions in this line of art to local
exhibitions very acceptable."
From "Art in British Columbia" by
Bernard McEvoy
Opportunities Magazine, 1910
"In the section devoted to oil paintings, two woodland scenes by W.P. Weston,
"Birch Woods, Autumn," and "Birch Woods, Spring," call for special comment."
From "Fine Arts Society Makes Fine Exhibit"
Vancouver Daily World, November 23 1911
"Passing on to the oil paintings, the "Birch Woods in Spring," by
Mr. W.P. Weston, was perhaps the best received. "The
Spring" is a charming canvas, full of the crispness of an early morning in the
young year, when autumn's bracken, still brown, offers a warm contrast to the
bright yellow-green of the budding foliage above."
From "Our Germ Of Art" by Eugene de Lopatecki
British Columbia magazine, December 1911
"Mr. W.P. Weston's "Full Moon," though not a large picture is
exceedingly attractive by reason of the exquisite modulation of light and color, and the
highly decorative way in which a sketchily painted sapling spreads its branches over the
main part of the picture. There is a reticence and tasteful handling in this picture
that make it a very desirable work of art."
From "With The B.C. Artists" by "A Visitor"
Vancouver Province, September 27 1916
" ... or such views of industrial Vancouver limned with true artistic instinct so as
to bring out all the beauty and soften all the harshness of outine as in ...
W.P. Weston's "The Burner." ... "
From "B.C. Society of Fine Arts - An Appreciation" by R.A.H.
Westminster Review, September 1917
"Mr. W.P. Weston of Vancouver, a competent
exponent of art, and a painter of much imaginative power, shows at his
best in his fine breezy picture entitled "November". Simple in composition
and powerful in treatment, this work bears the mark of artistic inspiration.
It took the fancy of the editor of the "Studio" when it was first
exhibited, and a reproduction of it appeared in the pages of that emininent
London periodical of contemporary art."
From "Local Work is on View" by Bernard McEvoy
Vancouver Province, October 2 1919
""Sunset" by W.P. Weston is the most daring
and wonderful sunset I have seen pictured; it is a study in contrast
and seems to hint of battle, the noble kind of battle that is lost
before it is fought. This sunset seems to beat itself uselessly on
the heads of two dull, sullen mountains; it hurls its battalions of
color helplessly against their mass and indifference. It is a wonderful
picture badly framed."
From "Pictures at B.C. Fine Arts" by J. Butterfield
Vancouver Province, September 19 1921, page 12
"Among those whose pictures were sold were ... W.P. Weston ..."
From "By the Way in Art" per B.C. Art League
Vancouver Province, October 6 1921, page 12
"Two striking color schemes by Mrs. Stateira Frame in her
now well-recognized style of boldness are a tribute to her courage and determination
in an attempt to break away from the traditional handling of difficult color values.
It is unfortunate for Mr. W.P. Weston that the hanging
committee have been unable to find a better juxtaposition for his delicately colored
"Becalmed" and "Dinghy Race" than exactly between these violent but appealing canvases
of Mrs. Frame. Wile the brighter colors absolutely kill Mr. Weston's picture from a
color point of view, it is still possible to enjoy the life and dignity of their lines
and composition."
From "B.C. Fine Arts Society Exhibition (First Notice)"
Vancouver Province, May 15 1923
""Summer Morning, Grantham's," by W.P. Weston offers a laughing view of the bay
through lightly timbered uplands. It is a refreshing and invigorating piece of painting ... "
From "Exhibition of B.C. Society of Fine Arts (Second Notice)"
Vancouver Province, May 9 1924
"W.P. Weston's "Dingman's Cove, Gabriola" has brown trees in
the distance with an intensely blue patch of sky showing through, a jewel-like stretch
of water, sapphire and jade intermingling, the branch of a sunlit tree, and a sun-drenched
floating wharf. All in holiday mode. ... Mr. W.P. Weston has unusually lovely misty
effects in blue and green in "A Camp, Grantham's." A canvas covered shack is in the foreground,
suggesting restfulness and quiet.
From "Exhibition of the B.C. Society of Fine Art" by
Alice M. Winlow
British Columbia magazine, June 1924
"Proceeding further on the modernist line, Mr. W.P.
Weston's "Booming Ground, Gambier Island" No. 18, must be intended as
a joke. Such florid color, such blues, greens and yellows were never seen on
land or sea. Mr. Weston is certainly "joshing" his fellow members who became
so deeply infected with the latest development of painting. In No. 15,
Mr. Weston is perhaps more intelligible, and the remarkable tree in the
yellow field, was evidently perceived through a pair of agitated and
circumlocutory glasses. The twiddling twigs are very amusing. Mr. Weston
further exemplifies his conversion or retraction in No. 29."
From "B.C. Society of Fine Arts" by
Bernard McEvoy
Vancouver Province, April 28 1928
"Decidedly the most striking picture from a masculine brush is the large
landscape with a wind-tormented tree in the middle and an expanse of snow
realistically painted with the afterglow of sunset upon it. It is impressionistic
with a sane impressionism and gentle and simple looked at with understanding and
delight. This is Charles Scott's. (Editor's
note: the painting is actually by W.P. Weston, as
corrected in a subsequent notice in the paper.)"
(continues)
"Mr. W.P. Weston, always a standby of the society
since he came here with fine credentials from London - an academic painter by
education who experiments occasionally with modernism by way of recreation -
is seen in six canvases which should be studied with the desire to get the
artist's point of view, as he is not the man to do things without reason."
From "B.C. Society of Fine Arts" by
Diogenes
Vancouver Province, November 13 1930
"The black and white prints and a few water colors that were crowded out of the North
Gallery are hanging in the print room. Here are represented E.J.
Cherry, W.P. Weston,
J.W.G. Macdonald, B.A. Fry,
Grace Melvin and others."
From "B.C. Artists Reveal Talent at Show"
unknown newspaper, October 1932
" ... nearly all our present painters of any distinction are also teachers. They include
... W.P. Weston, art instructor at the Vancouver Normal School ... "
From "BRITISH COLUMBIA ART - Significance of First "All British
Columbia Show" by Harold Mortimer Lamb
Saturday Night December 10 1932
"Drawing Methods of Today Radical Change From Past"
Daily Colonist, July 27 1934
"One-Man Display By W.P. Weston at Art Gallery Attractive"
Vancouver Province, September 25 1934
"Art Textbook Author Shows His Paintings" by T.H.W.
News-Herald, September 25 1934
"B.C. Laureate in Art" by C.O. Scott
Vancouver Province, November 28 1936
"Modern Canadian Art Wins Acclaim"
Vancouver Province, June 10 1937
"Art Teacher has Many Hobbies"
Toronto Star Weekly, July 24 1937
"Two Vancouver Artists, J.W.G. Macdonald and W.P. Weston, have had the honor
of having their work selected for the Coronation Exhibition in London. ...
Mr. Weston, instructor of the Normal School and the first western artist to
be elected to the R.C.A. (sic) will send an oil painting entitled "The Castaways."
From "Vancouver Artists In Coronation Show: J.W.G. Macdonald
and W.P. Weston Honored"
Vancouver Province, August 19 1937
"There is much work that is excellent and pleasing. Among the oils ... W.P. Weston,
especially his "Winter Phantasy," ... are all highly creditable."
From "Fine Showing By B.C. Artists Follows Conventional Lines" by E.N.B.
Vancouver Province, April 30 1938
"Art Shown in Common Things"
Daily Colonist, July 6 1938
"Sculpture Key To Good Form"
Daily Colonist, July 19 1938
"Telephone Is Today's Statue"
Victoria Times, July 19 1938
"Cubism Dead Says Artist"
Daily Colonist, July 27 1938
"Says Canada Art Distinct"
Victoria Times, July 28 1938
"Art Revived in Common Things"
Victoria Times, August 2 1938
"Machine Now Assists Art"
Daily Colonist, August 3 1938
"W.P. Weston A.R.C.A. is admirably represented in the
exhibition, notably by "Mount Kletza" (sic) a study of a Vancouver Island lake, with
lofty peak in the background. "Tide Flats" is another strong contribution by him."
From "Leading Provincial Artists Exhibit at Show" by T.H.W.
News-Herald, June 10 1939
"Six Paintings From B.C. Go To England"
Vancouver Province, August 26 1939
"Artist Honored"
Vancouver Province, April 3 1939
"Princess Alice Visits Gallery"
Victoria Colonist, April 18 1941
"Picture Sold to Princess" by Mildred Valley Thornton
Vancouver Sun, April 19 1941
"Princess Alice Buys Painting By City Man"
Vancouver Province, April 19 1941
"Vancouver Artists' Work in Hemisphere Art Exhibition"
Vancouver Sun, July 18 1941
"Among the large canvases accepted for this year's R.C.A. exhibition are ...
two big oil paintings by W.P. Weston, A.R.C.A., entitled
"Dead Pine, Horseshoe Bay" and "B.C. Coast Scene" ..."
From "Western Artists Capture Interest At Toronto Show"
by Palette
Vancouver Province, November 20 1941
"W.P. Weston's "B.C. Coast Scene" is among the exhibits
selected for the travelling show of the Royal Canadian Academy which, as in
previous years, will come to Vancouver during the winter."
From "Western Artists Capture Interest At Toronto Show"
by Palette
Vancouver Province, November 20 1941
"W.P. Weston, A.R.C.A., not only shows examples of his strong
characteristic B.C. landscapes but adds surprising achievement
in entirely different compositions of skunk cabbages."
From "B.C. Society of Fine Arts
Display Sets New High Mark" by Palette
Vancouver Province, May 16 1942
"The new executive committee is composed of ... W.P. Weston ... "
From "B.C. Artists' Display To Calgary
For Exhibition" by Palette
Vancouver Province, May-June 1942
"W.P. Weston, A.R.C.A., again shows in his familiar style
and with fine lyrical and decorative values a landscape combining water, mountains
and vast expanse of sky."
From "Colorful Display Presented In Exhibition By B.C. Artists"
by Palette
Vancouver Province, September 19 1942
" ... Among those contibuting paintings and drawings are: ... W.P. Weston, ARCA ... "
From "Noted Artists Offer Paintings
For Red Cross"
Vancouver Province (presumed), November 1942
"New phases appear in the exhibits by W.P. Weston, A.R.C.A.,
especially in the color, simplicity and subtle rhythm running through his "Devil's Club"
and "Abandoned Gravel Pit.""
From "Fine Creative Spirit Marks Exhibition By B.C. Artists"
Vancouver Province, May 21 1943
"Paintings by well known artists include ... W.P. Weston ... "
From "Summer Show at Gallery Major Event
for Art Lovers" by Palette
Vancouver Province, July 7 1943
"William P. Weston, A.R.C.A., Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts (London),
is a notable, unassuming and characterful figure in B.C. art circles ... "
From "Artist With A Message" by Palette
Vancouver Province, August 28 1943
"W.P. Weston has a fine study of the outdoors ... "
From "Notable Exhibits of Artists' Work"
by Mildred Valley Thornton
Vancouver Sun (presumed), May 1944
"The third exhibition of painting to be held this season at the Coste House,
opening on Saturday, under the auspices of the Calgary Art Association, will feature
the work of an outstanding British Columbia artist, W.P. Weston (A.R.C.A.) ... "
From "Noted B.C. Artist In One-Man Show" by Geneva Lent
Calgary Herald, November 15 1944
"Striking B.C. Scenic Studies Highlight One-man Art Show" by Palette
Vancouver Province, May 10 1945
"W.P. Weston Retires After Eventful Art Career" by Palette
Vancouver Province, March 27 1946
"Weston Display Major Event In Province's Art History"
From "In the Realm of Art" by
Palette
Vancouver Province, November 13 1946
"Weston Exhibit Shows Strong Use Of Imagery"
News Herald, November 13 1946
"Weston Show At Gallery Impressive" by Mildred Valley Thornton
Vancouver Sun, November 22 1946
"Other works which catch the eye are by W.P. Weston,
Beth (sic) Harris, Erich Loewe,
and Gordon A. Smith."
From "B.C. Art Exhibit Non-Experimental"
News Herald, May 12 1947
"Artist Sees Trail As a Jap Print" by Ed Costello
Trail Daily Times, January 29 1948
"Veteran Painter Begins Tour to Assist Artists" by Palette
Vancouver Province, January 30 1948
"City Artist Ends Successful B.C. Tour" by Palette
Vancouver Province, February 28 1948
""Never part with a painting until you've lived with it least (sic)
a year." Such was the sage advice given to the
West Van Sketch Club by W.P.
Weston, A.R.C.A., at last week's meeting."
From "Painter's Colic" by E.L.
The Lions Gate Times, March 11 1948
" ... The Reeve oficially opened the show, followed by speeches from
Mr. Ira Dilworth and Mr. W.P. Weston, thus making
it one of the outstanding social, as well as cultural, events of the year. ... "
From "Letter re West Vancouver Sketch Club"
Personal correspondence, March 15 1948
"Sir: - Was very amused at Mr. Ed. Costello's witty and kindly column
(last month) re W.P. Weston, ARCA. I
join with him in the opinion that
Mr. Weston's one of the finest painters today in the province with a
reputation deservedly dominion-wide. The writer has very vivid memories
of his kindly and helpful spirit when he was art Instructor at the
Japanese student-teacher's summer school in New Denver in the summers
of '44 and '45. ... "
From "LIKES WESTON" by "Allan P. Allsebrook"
Trail Daily Times, March 1948
"In the more representational school W.P. Weston,
ARCA, refusing to rest on past laurels, show five large paintings into
all of which he has injected a fresh note. Especially fine in rhythmic
movement are his logs on Kew Beach and a majestic view of Anvil Island."
From "Lively Spirit Pervades B.C. Artists' Exhibition"
by Palette
Vancouver Province, May 3 1949
"Weston Pictures Leave Lasting Impression" by Audrey St. D. Johnson
Victoria Times, September 14 1949
"In the 1910 catalogue appears for the first time the name of
W.P. Weston, who has exhibited in every display
since that date. With dozens of art teachers now in the Province it is
difficult to realize that when Mr. Weston came from England in the previous year
he was the only art teacher in the Province under John Kyle ... "
From "B.C. Society of Artists - A History"
by J.D. Parker
B.C. Society of Fine Arts 40th Annual
Exhibition Catalogue, 1950
"History of Art in B.C. Display To Feature Emily Carr's Work" by Pat Prowd
(unknown newspaper), April 1950
"Cabbage - It Can Be Art"
From "Weston's 50 Years of Painting in B.C." by Mac Reynolds
Vancouver Sun, April 24 1959
"450 Jam Gallery For Weston Show"
Vancouver Province ?, April 29 1959
"Veteran Artist's Works on Show" by Mildred Valley Thornton
Vancouver Sun, May ? 1959
"World Famous Artist Holds First Coast Exhibition After 13 Years" by C.P.
Nelson Daily News, May 30 1959
"Abstractionist Art - Or 'Drip And Dribble' " by C.P.
Vancouver Sun ?, May ? 1959
"Artist Considered Crackpot When City 25 Years Old"
Vancouver Sun, May 21 1960
"Portrait of an Artist"
CBC Times, Vancouver, June 23-29 1962
"B.C. Art Master Lecture Subject" by Flora Kyle
Vancouver Sun, June 29 1962
"B.C. Artist Gives Buyers Brush-Off" by Jim Rae
Vancouver Sun, September 12 1966
"Weston imposes his will even on the clouds" by Joan Lowndes
Vancouver Province, September 16 1966
"W. Weston, noted city artist, dies"
Vancouver Province, December 21 1967
"Prominent B.C. Artist Dies at 88" by Staff Reporter
Vancouver Sun, December 21 1967