Alan Wylie

Born in Glasgow, Scotland, and later making British Columbia his home, Alan Wylie (1938–2022) was one of Canada's most accomplished painters. Trained at the Glasgow School of Art in mural design and mosaics, Wylie enjoyed a distinguished career spanning more than six decades, earning international recognition and numerous awards, including the Federation of Canadian Artists' Lifetime Achievement Award. Equally comfortable in watercolour and oil, his work is admired for its exceptional technical skill and ability to capture atmosphere and emotion.

While the City Sleeps offers a glimpse into the quieter side of urban life. With characteristic sensitivity to light and mood, Wylie transforms an ordinary scene into something contemplative and timeless. The subdued palette and carefully orchestrated composition evoke the peaceful stillness that settles over a city after dark, inviting the viewer to pause and appreciate a moment that often goes unnoticed.

Like much of Wylie's work, the painting balances realism with emotion, revealing the artist's remarkable ability to find poetry in everyday subjects. Rich in atmosphere and executed with the confidence of a master painter, While the City Sleeps is both a celebration of place and a reflection on the quiet beauty that emerges when the world slows down.

Now available from our Second Market Collection, this work represents an opportunity to acquire a painting by one of Western Canada's most respected and beloved artists.