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Born in Allandale, Ontario, Edwin Headley Holgate served with the 5th Canadian Division Artillery in France during the First World War. During the Second World War he was commissioned as an official war artist with the Royal Canadian Air Force. He continued to be an active painter until the time of his death in 1977. 

Edwin Holgate joined the Group in 1931 and is considered to have played a relatively minor role in their history. 

Previous to joining, Holgate had exhibited with the group as an invited contributor. He never exhibited as a Group member due to their disbanding shortly after he joined. 

• Canada 1995.  The Lumberjack.  Painted 1924.  Public Library and Art Gallery, Stamia, Canada  Scott # 1561c. 

This is the only stamp Canada has issued with Holgate's works.

Although Holgate was born in Ontario, he was raised in Montreal, where he began studying art at an early age under William Brymer.

Following a number of years in Paris, both before and after the war, he returned permanently to Montreal in 1922. Holgate than opened a studio and taught wood engraving at the Ecole des Beaux Arts.

He was friendly with Jackson and the Montreal artists of the Beaver Hall group and often went sketching with them in Quebec. 

At this point, he was considered a promising young artist, capable of competent works such as The Cellist. However, Holgate never seemed to develop to the potential indicated by his early works. 

• The Cellist. Painted 1923.  The McMichael Collection, Kleinburg, Ontario. 

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