Trailblazer
John Innes
John Innes was, without a doubt, the most prolific frontier artist in early 20th century Canada.
Born in 1863 in London Ontario, Innes was educated in Ontario and in England, where he excelled in design, drafting, and painting.
Upon returning to Canada, Innes headed west, blazing a trail ahead of the Canadian Pacific Railway when his artistic ability and adventurous spirit enabled him to join a survey party in the foothills of the Canadian Rockies, where he created maps and sketches.
When he reached Alberta, John embraced the cowboy life ranching and raising horses. In 1885 he was drawing cartoons for various periodicals, and later published his own newspaper in Banff titled "Mountain Echoes.
After twelve years in the West, Innes was back in Toronto where he worked as a writer and illustrator.
He mass produced postcards from his original painting romanticizing life on the Canadian Frontier.
He created a series of art work he called Epic of the West as he traveled back to Vancouver by pack train in 1905. The series accurately portrayed the era of the Indian, the fur trader and the buffalo. The spectacular collection was purchased by the Hudson's Bay Company, and now hangs in Winnipeg.
Art Collectors have called John Innes the Remington of the Canadian West,"
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