Federation of Canadian Artists [1948]. Canadian Society of Graphic Art [1948]. Picture Loan Society [1950-58]. Canadian Society of Painters in Watercolour [1956 (President 1958-60)]. Ontario Society of Artists [1963]. Society of Canadian Painter-Etchers and Engravers [1965]. Royal Canadian Academy [1974]. Print & Drawing Council of Canada [1976]. American Watercolour Society [1980 (honorary member)]. Chelsea Arts Club, London (UK).

Julius Griffith was born in Vancouver, British Columbia. He studied at the Vancouver School of Art under Charles H. Scott, F.H. Varley and J.W.G. MacDonald. After moving to England with his parents in 1928 he studied in London at the Slade School and the Central School of Arts & Crafts. He also studied at the Royal College of Art under Sir William Ruthenstein, E.W. Tristram, Edward Bawden, Eric Ravilious, and Gilbert Spencer. Further studies were interrupted by the outbreak of WWII. During the war he worked with the “Air-raid Precautions” for a time and eventually joined the Red Cross. In 1941-42 he worked in a country-house hospital in Sussex. With little to do, he taught art and learned Russian. He joined the Royal Navy as an interpreter under the rank of Sub-Lieutenant. From 1942 till the end of the war Griffith was stationed in Murmansk and Archangel. In November 1946 Griffith returned permanently to Canada. On his return he quickly established himself as a graphic artist and wood engraver. He later studied in Toronto at the Ontario College of Art with Frederick Hagen. In painting he was influenced by European modern artists and by the work of David Milne. He was given a number of watercolour exhibitions at the Picture Loan Society in Toronto. He also exhibited work at the Brooklyn Museum’s “20th International Biennial Show of Water Colours” [1959] and at the “First International Biennial of Prints”, Tokyo, Japan [1957]. He held exhibitions of prints at the Art Gallery of Hamilton [1960] and of watercolours at the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts [1962]. Griffith taught art in Toronto at the Western Technical School, Artists’ Workshop, Ryerson Polytechnic Institute, Ontario College of Art, and at Central Technical School. Julius Griffith was a painter in watercolour and oils, a graphic artist, illustrator, teacher, and fine print maker. His work is in the collections of the National Gallery of Canada, Canadian War Museum, Imperial War Museum (London), Art Gallery of Ontario, Toronto City Archives, Toronto Public Library, Art Gallery of Hamilton, McMaster University (Hamilton), Carleton University (Ottawa), Glenbow Museum (Calgary), Art Gallery of Greater Victoria (British Columbia), and numerous corporate and private collections. In 1997, the artist passed away at his home in Toronto.