In the world of marine painting, John Horton is second to none, and his work is prized by collectors all over the world. A member of the Canadian Society of Marine Artists, the Federation of Canadian Artists and The Honourable Company of Master Mariners of Canada, Horton is the only Canadian marine artist cited in Dennis Brook-Hart's authoritative work Twentieth Century Marine Painting.

Born in England, Horton spent several years in the Royal Navy, apprenticed in the shopfitting trade and worked as a designer and architectural artist before immigrating to Canada in 1966. In Vancouver he found the perfect environment for nurturing his life-long passion for the sea and its history.

Over the years, Horton has produced more than 1,100 paintings, all of which are meticulously researched, richly detailed and technically accurate. For his series depicting Captain George Vancouver's 18th-century voyages of exploration and discovery, for example, Horton himself sailed Vancouver's routes, from the Olympic Peninsula to Alaska. Many of his paintings incorporate recognizable shore features. This year marks the 250th anniversary of the birth of Captain Vancouver. From vessels, harbours and major seaports to Canadian troops in the Persian Gulf, the subjects of Horton's paintings tell a story.

-- Heritage House