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Friday, June 5, 2026

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Hobbs prints a double tribute collectable
By Anne Davison

The Historic CP Station is a landmark restored and serving the community as Arts Mosaic and it has also been preserved in an original oil painting by Dr. William Hobbs. Arts Mosaic has a framed print as well as unframed limited edition numbered prints by Hobbs.

These sizeable prints are available to the public for purchase.

History tells that it was the arrival of the CPR tracks in 1882 that was responsible for putting Virden on the map as a vital transportation and shipping hub for western Manitoba. The iconic fieldstone CPR Station was built in 1900.

The numbered prints were discovered some years ago, a treasure tucked away within the building, and a surprise to the Arts Mosaic board members of the day.

As a limited edition, this unique work is by no means overpriced as they pay a double tribute - to Canadian history and to a painter of renown.

According to a historical account on Arts Mosaic’s website, Dr. William Hobbs did both his medical training and his training as an artist in England, and then came to Canada to make his career on the prairies. Coming to Western Canada to practice medicine in 1959, he was riding aboard a CPR passenger train out of Montreal, rounding the great lakes when the conductor called out: "Is there a doctor on board?"

A female passenger had gone into labour and needed to deliver her baby on the train. Dr. Hobbs was happy to oblige. He assisted in the delivery of a healthy baby.

CPR executives were very grateful, and presented Hobbs with a railway pass and gave him access to their archives of station plans and train locomotives and cars.

Wherever Dr. Hobbs practiced in Manitoba and Saskatchewan, he painted the stations and trains in the area, which earned him the title of Master Painter of Railways.

Recognition

CanadaArtist website calls William G. Hobbs (1927 – 2012), ‘Canada's Favourite Train Artist’.

Hobbs was noted to say, "I love to paint, if you love to paint, you cannot be kept down...you must paint."

An account on this website of the painter/physician says, “The demand for his paintings was so great, Hobbs was painting nearly every waking moment. It took months to create one single painting. Hobbs studied art in England, Canada, and the U.S. for many years.

“Each painting was carefully planned and

researched with extreme enthusiasm. He painted in layers of paint like the old masters.

“You won't mistake his snow for cotton candy. It takes a long time to paint snow. Hobbs was obsessed with painting snow and did much of it with a brush with one hair, taking the canvas outside and into many different lights to try to get right. Some paintings even have a little gravel from the real location on the canvas and in the right light, you'll be taken back in time to the wonderful era of trains.

“He always hoped you'd enjoy this website with a cup of coffee and time to relax and enjoy the journey into his art where you catch a train and go into the station.”

The site further records Hobbs words, "I must save the history of this wonderful place. When I stepped off the train in 1959, I had never seen open spaces like the prairies where trains define the landscape. The light forced me to paint. I had to capture it. I had to preserve it. You have to live here 20 years to understand it. I only know after nearly 50 years on the prairies I have almost captured the storms, the light, the skies, and the snow.

“Trains and painting are my life. I must paint all the stations west of the Hudson Bay or the history will be lost."

The late Queen Elizabeth was gifted a William (Bill) Hobbs painting. Recorded in the Brandon Sun the story is linked in CanadaArtist website. A caption of the art piece reads: Bruce Bumstead/Brandon Sun - Bill Hobbs with his painting depicting Queen Elizabeth II’s 1970 stopover in La Broquerie, based on a photo that is notable for its casual feel.

According to Art Value (artvalue.ca) William Hobbs’work, ‘Regina’ was sold for $330 as an 18 cm x 20 cm (7.09 in x 7.87 in) limited edition photolithographic 1982 print. While an original, Regina Canadian Pacific Railway Station, oil on linen, for sale by Saskatchewan NAC Auction House, Regina was estimated between $10,000 - $15,000. But as it was not sold last year when on offer, we don’t know what it would fetch.

The numbered print of Virden CPR Station is a steal of a deal. Contact or visit Arts Mosaic for more information.

Funds generated from the sale of the prints are designated to support another piece of history - they will help refurbish the Caboose rail car that’s parked at the Station.