“The mountains, the peaks, the glaciers; that's where I want to be and that's what I want to paint.”
Alfred Crocker Leighton (October 27, 1901–May, 1965) was an English-Canadian artist renowned for his depictions of Canadian landscapes, particularly the Rocky Mountains. Born in Hastings, Sussex, England, Leighton initially traveled to Canada with Canadian Pacific Railway when he was hired to produce commercial art for them.
He was immediately enthralled by the rugged Canadian landscape and went to great lengths to capture its beauty, even jumping off moving trains and scaling cliffs to attain just the right vantage point for his pieces.
A.C. Leighton; Lake Magog, Mt. Assiniboine
He returned to Canada several times to paint the Rockies with CP. Unfortunately, in return for housing and transportation, the railway retained the first right of purchase for Leighton’s work and kept most of it in their London office, which was destroyed during WWII.
Leighton went on to teach art extensively in Alberta in the 30’s, helping to establish the visual arts program at the Banff School for Fine Arts (now the Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity).
A.C. Leighton; Quiet Farm in Dorchester
He met fellow artist, Barbara Harvey, at one of his art classes and the two were married in 1931. They loved to spend their time in the backcountry together, painting the landscapes they were both so fond of.
Leighton’s health started to deteriorate in his older years and he was forced to permanently retire from teaching in 1938. The couple spent their later years between Alberta and British Columbia, where AC spent his days obsessively painting the Rockies. After years of health issues, Leighton passed away in 1965.
A.C. Leighton; Oregon Coast
After his death, Barbara went on to open her own school of art complete with weaving and pottery studios. The Leighton Centre was officially incorporated in 1974 after becoming a major hub for artists of all demographics. The Centre displays a large collection of AC Leightons works alongside other prominent artistic figures of the time.
Alfred Crocker Leighton’s work is featured in many major collections, including the National Gallery of Canada, the Vancouver Art Gallery, and various Canadian corporate and private collections. His legacy in Canadian art is celebrated for his contributions as both an artist and an educator.