Find a piece of Nova Scotia to take home.

Lelia approaches each painting excited to tell its story. Regardless of the subject matter, her artwork quietly engages the audience. “I want to share a memory or experience with the viewer and I am driven to do that through colour and light.”

Lelia is primarily self-taught but has attended workshops with many well-known Canadian artists. She works mainly in oils but will often use acrylics for under-painting. Her style is realistic, with earthy colours and bright highlights.

Lelia lives in Durham, Nova Scotia. Her work is currently showcased at Art2Sea Gallery in Pictou and Gallery 215 in Selma.

Always learning and exploring different techniques, Carolyn passes on to her students her enthusiasm for art. She has over forty years’ experience teaching.

These days, Carolyn is branching out around the Maritimes, doing exhibits, workshops, and Plein Air Painting. With Carolyn, there is never a dull moment and never a creative lapse.

Born and raised in Pictou County, Nova Scotia, Gordon was always happiest when the sea was involved in his activities. Drawing and painting were also a large part of his world, and before long art lessons were added to his list of favourite things.

While working for Sobeys in the advertising department, he was introduced to graphic art, sign lettering, and silk-screen printing. After moving to Toronto, he rekindled his love of art by learning oil-painting techniques with William P. Gamon. During this time, Gordon participated in many successful amateur art shows, including Sunnybrook Hospital, where art groups contributed on a rotation basis. He later became involved in a similar arrangement with the Aberdeen Hospital in New Glasgow.

With a creative appetite to be fed, Gordon entered the world of pen and ink, studying the many techniques under Gamon’s guidance. He began to add colour washes to the ink drawings, which led to watercolour and eventually acrylics — his preferred medium for marine paintings.

Shortly after returning to New Glasgow with his family, Gordon opened Artgems Framing & Gallery, where he operated the shop and produced his artwork for 24 years, closing the business in 2008. Now in his retirement years, he continues painting and framing at his home. Gordon's most recent artwork can be viewed at Art2Sea Gallery in Pictou, NS.

Sheila trained originally as a graphic designer. Although her working life has been in the creative world (as a radio writer, actor, and graphic designer) painting was a hobby. Working mainly in acrylics, she is a self-taught artist. Sheila’s art has been chosen for municipal banners in Pictou and Bible Hill, featured in the Canadian Artists Society’s 55th anniversary online art exhibition, and collected as far away as Winnipeg and the United Arab Emirates.

“I am ADHD, or neurodivergent. I think neurodivergent sounds more accurate, as divergent is defined as ‘tending to be different or develop in different directions.’ Aside from theatre (a whole other story) I feel most comfortable and competent painting and creating. I usually have two or three projects on the go at any one time. I float between them as my brain dictates, but I don’t give up on them.”

“Every piece of art I create is my baby, and they don’t leave my studio unless I feel they are the best they can be. I like using bright colour and strong contrasts, and expressing what I see in a whimsical manner. I also like to experiment, because being neurodivergent is a gift.”

I’m Tracey Truly, an original clay artist from Pictou County, known for my creativity and whimsical, hand-sculpted art.

I favour sculpting with the modern magic of polymer clays, then painting and finishing with fabric, moss, wood, and found objects. I draw from my imagination to bring to life whimsical, expressive, and unexpected characters from my home in Trenton, Nova Scotia, filling the world with a bit of fun and a lot of character.

When not squishing clay and coaxing characters into the world, I write original stories for my characters and take them on photo adventures in nearby forests, capturing the scenes that unfold naturally when your life is dazzled by the shenanigans of elves.

Grant Lounsbury is a classically trained animator who received his Bachelor of Arts in Animation from Sheridan College. He spent a large part of his early career in traditional animation, working on television and animated feature films. He has worked internationally on films including Anastasia, Titan A.E., and All Dogs Go to Heaven 2.

Grant began painting over 15 years ago and has won numerous awards for his paintings. Most recently, he has been working as a professional oil painter and teaching art at St. Francis Xavier University in Antigonish, Nova Scotia.

In his painting, he enjoys embracing a loose style that feels alive and reveals the movement, energy, and compassion he feels as an artist. “My paintings are derived directly from the emotional connection that I have with the outdoors, wildlife, and sometimes special structures. The next generation may not be able to interact with the great outdoors in the same way that I can, and I want my paintings to give future generations the perspective and insight that is unique to my experiences, my thoughts, and my vision.”

Wendy Kennedy is a self-taught intuitive artist from Pictou, Nova Scotia. With a creative journey spanning over 30 years, Wendy’s work is characterized by her vibrant use of bold colour, playful abstractions, and a signature love for flowers and “wonky” birds, whimsical, quirky creatures that often take centre stage in her paintings. Her artistic approach is deeply intuitive, guided by emotion and the spontaneous flow of creativity.

Growing up near the ocean and beautiful, historic Sherbrooke Village, Wendy draws inspiration from her surroundings, whether it’s the history of a small town, the ever-changing sky, or her flower gardens. Her work is a celebration of colour, life, and the beauty found in the imperfect, in the “wonky” details that make things truly unique.

Ron has lived in all four Atlantic provinces, where he has often found a way to putter around boats, from cruising to offshore racing in Nova Scotia.

He began his art training at Mount Allison and has also studied at NSCAD. Classes with painters including Brian Atyeo, Tom Forrestall, and Bill Rogers have developed his appreciation for a variety of styles and artistic approaches.

Enjoying the seasons in Atlantic Canada, Ron continues to develop his individual style and chooses subjects that reflect nature and its moods. He currently paints in acrylics and is also exploring oils and watercolours.

Sharon is a natural media artist, working primarily in pebbles, seaglass, twigs with a wee bit of fuzzy wuzzy.