Brian Johnson was born in Victoria. He graduated with distinction from the Art Center College of Design in Los Angeles, California. After graduating he worked at Earle A. Morrison, Industrial Design in Vancouver for several years. He later became a marine artist and with his family moved back to Victoria. His membership in the Canadian Society of Marine Artists was confirmed in 1986; and he became a member of the Royal Institute of Painters in Water Colours in 1998. At the Royal Institute, he was awarded their annual medal for most outstanding work. He found that watercolour, with its great range, allowed him to create special paintings.

Brian spent a lifetime exploring local seashores and out of the way places to study the interaction of light and land and sea. Of his work, the paintings that most pleased him exhibited the quality that happens when the intuitive and cognitive functions collaborate to produce something that one didn't know that one could do. He felt that some of his best works were subjects he almost did not see. Also his community honoured him with an 'Honorary Citizen of Victoria' award.

Here are some paintings that can be viewed; part of the retrospective of Brian's work in the slide show

	Winter Harbour watercolour
Near Tofino watercolour
	Beached Fishing Boat watercolour
Ice Flow watercolour