Edward John Hughes's Auction Record Jumps 21% With $4.14m Sale

3 min read · 22 May 2026

Coastal Boats Near Sidney, BC. Image courtesy of Heffel

Edward John Hughes, Coastal Boats Near Sidney, BC (1948) sold for $4.14m (CAD5.7m), more than four and a half times the low estimate at Heffel in Toronto on May 21. The oil on canvas work has not been traded before.

The sale beat the artist’s previous auction record by $725,100, a 21% rise.

Entrance to Howe Sound (1949). Sold for $3.42m in 2025. Image courtesy of Heffel

Abandoned Village, Rivers Inlet, BC (1947). Sold for $1.8m in 2023. Image courtesy of Heffel Fine Art Auction House

Fishboats, Rivers Inlet (1946). Sold for $1.53m in 2018. Image courtesy of Heffel

The Post Office at Courtenay, BC (1949). Sold for $1.22m in 2016. Image courtesy of Heffel

Coastal boats near Sidney BC (1948). Sold for $1.17m in 2011. Image courtesy of Heffel

Fishboats, Rivers Inlet (1946). Sold for $668,900 in 2004. Image courtesy of Heffel

Departure from Nanaimo (1964). Sold for $203,100 in 2004. Image courtesy of Sotheby's & Ritchies

South Thompson Valley at Chase BC (1957). Sold for $137,800 in 2004. Image courtesy of Heffel

Courtenay BC (1950). Sold for $137,200 in 2003. Image courtesy of Heffel

The Post Office at Courtenay, BC (1949). Sold for $70,800 in 1991. Image courtesy of Sotheby's

Entrance to Howe Sound (1949). Sold for $3.42m in 2025. Image courtesy of Heffel

The previous record was set by Entrance to Howe Sound (1949), which sold for $3.42m at Heffel on November 19, 2025.

Sale Date	Title	Price	Record Increase	Venue	City
May 21, 2026	Coastal Boats Near Sidney, BC	$4.14m	21 %	Heffel	Toronto
November 19, 2025	Entrance to Howe Sound	$3.42m	90 %	Heffel	Canada
May 25, 2023	Abandoned Village, Rivers Inlet, BC	$1.8m	17 %	Heffel Fine Art Auction House	-
November 21, 2018	Fishboats, Rivers Inlet	$1.53m	25 %	Heffel	Toronto
May 25, 2016	The Post Office at Courtenay, BC	$1.22m	4 %	Heffel	Vancouver
May 17, 2011	Coastal boats near Sidney BC	$1.17m	75 %	Heffel	Vancouver
November 25, 2004	Fishboats, Rivers Inlet	$668,900	229 %	Heffel	Toronto
May 31, 2004	Departure from Nanaimo	$203,100	47 %	Sotheby's & Ritchies	Toronto
May 27, 2004	South Thompson Valley at Chase BC	$137,800	0 %	Heffel	Vancouver
May 15, 2003	Courtenay BC	$137,200	94 %	Heffel	Vancouver
November 06, 1991	The Post Office at Courtenay, BC	$70,800	92 %	Sotheby's	Toronto
May 16, 1989	South Thompson valley at chase B.C.	$36,900	-	Joyner Fine Art	Toronto

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Edward John Hughes

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