A painter and writer of note, Edythe was known mainly as Emily Carr's friend and sketching partner and later Special Consultant on Emily Carr for the provincial government. Born in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, she spent her youth growing up near Craigdarroch Castle in Victoria. Trained in painting and drawing by the island traditionalist Margaret Kitto, Edythe also studied at the California School of Arts and Crafts and in Paris, France. Upon her return to Canada, she met Emily with whom she experienced well-documented sketching trips. She exhibited with the B.C. Society of Artists and the Annual Exhibition of Northwest Artists in Seattle. Her books include The Untold Story of Emily Carr and M.E. A portrayel of Emily Carr. Her work is held in the Art Gallery of Greater Victoria, the University of Victoria Legacy Art Gallery, the Vancouver Art Gallery and the BC Archives.

Born and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area, Christina Johnson-Dean graduated from the University of California, Berkeley with a B.A. (History, Art), completed Education at San Jose State University for a Professional Teacher’s Certificate and taught elementary school. She then travelled around the world, teaching E.S.L. in Thailand and elementary school in New Zealand. She immigrated to Canada, where she completed an M.A. (History in Art) at the University of Victoria, worked as a teaching assistant for the department and created courses on local art history for Continuing Studies. Her publications include The Crease Family: A Record of Settlement and Service in British Columbia (1981, B.C. Archives) and B.C. Women Artists 1885-1920 in the exhibition British Columbia Women Artists (Art Gallery of Greater Victoria, 1985). She has also taught in School District #61 Victoria (mainly Special Education and E.S.L.), while she and her husband raised their two daughters.

Christina Johnson-Dean's profile page