Step into almost any side road in Prince Edward County and there’s a good chance you’ll stumble upon a studio filled with colour, clay, or the faint scent of beeswax and oil paint. The County isn’t just farm country or winery central—it’s also home to one of the most vibrant creative communities in Ontario, shaped by painters, potters, woodworkers, and textile artists who’ve traded urban grit for rural charm.
These aren’t part-time dabblers. Many have left careers in Toronto, Montreal, or abroad to embrace full-time artistic lives here—baking their craft into the very landscape of the County, barn by barn and brushstroke by brushstroke.
Mad Dog Gallery – A Creative Outpost Near Milford
Located off Highway 49, just past a sleepy curve, you’ll find Mad Dog Gallery, a long-standing staple of the County art scene. Run by painter Chrissie Poitras and her partner Kyle Topping, it’s a haven for contemporary Canadian artists. Chrissie’s own work features vivid landscapes of PEC—rolling hills, vineyard rows, and stormy skies with just the right touch of melancholy. The gallery doubles as a gathering place: locals drop by for openings, travellers discover it accidentally and end up chatting for hours in the garden with a scone from The County Kitchen down the road.
Black Licorice Studio – Where Clay Meets Personality
A few turns away near Waupoos, potter Edith Swan runs Black Licorice Studio, named after the polarizing candy and her cat, Licorice. Edith’s mugs aren’t your standard fare—each one comes with its own personality. Some feature expressive faces (she swears one looks like her Aunt June), others display impressions of County wildflowers. Every Saturday morning, she opens her studio to browsers—who, more often than not, leave with a mug and a story.
HatchGallery – Industrial Minimalism with a County Twist
At HatchGallery in Bloomfield, former Toronto art dealer John Wallace has transformed a modest building into a sleek, modern space showcasing minimalist sculpture and large-format abstract works. It’s a far cry from the pastoral clichés some expect of PEC. But that’s part of the magic here: the County’s art scene is diverse. One room may contain moody seascapes, while the next might hold a steel-and-birchwood installation built with materials salvaged from a collapsed barn in Ameliasburgh.
Mena Dragonfly Textiles – Weaving the County’s History
Mena Clarke’s textile studio in Cherry Valley is a warm, wool-scented wonderland. Using old wooden looms and hand-dyed County wool, Mena creates blankets and throws that are as practical as they are beautiful. Her dyes come from native plants like goldenrod, sumac, and even black walnuts from her own backyard. Each piece includes a hand-stitched tag noting the date, temperature, and mood she was in when weaving. Locals often joke: if you own a “Mena,” you’re officially County.
Parsons Brewing Artist Residency – Where Beer Meets Brush
Yes, even the breweries are in on the act. At Parsons Brewing Co. on County Road 49, a rotating artist-in-residence program allows painters and illustrators to live on-site, drink beer (professionally, of course), and create. Their works often show up on beer labels, walls, and even the picnic tables. Last fall, a painter from Toronto turned the brewery’s back shed into a mural of hop vines, farmers, and dancing foxes. Patrons sipping a Westy Pale Ale now debate whether the foxes are allegorical.
Why Creativity Thrives Here
There’s something about the County air—or maybe it’s the wind off Lake Ontario—that inspires this type of expression. Many artists cite the light: soft, golden, with long shadows that shift quickly between rain and sun. Others point to the solitude and community—the strange but harmonious balance of quiet inspiration and supportive neighbours.
The annual PEC Studio Tour, held every fall, ties it all together. Over 40 artists open their doors to the public, offering everything from sculpture gardens to live demonstrations. It’s not just a sale—it’s a story. You’re walking into someone’s life. And often, you’ll leave with something you didn’t expect: a small painting, a scarf, a hand-turned bowl—or just the memory of talking to someone who really, truly loves what they do.
Make a Day of It
Start your morning with a stop at Beacon Bike + Brew in Picton for a maple latte and local gossip. Head east to explore Mad Dog Gallery and Black Licorice Studio, then loop back through Bloomfield and end your day with fish tacos and cider at The County Canteen, where you might just bump into the artists you met earlier.
Whether you’re a lifelong resident or a weekend wanderer, don’t overlook the creative undercurrent running through Prince Edward County. It’s stitched into the linens, fired into the pottery, and painted across the walls of barns and breweries alike. Just follow the paint-splattered signs, knock on the studio doors, and let curiosity be your guide.
Because here in the County, creativity isn’t just framed—it’s lived.
Go to the County Life section