Prince Edward County is putting its artists back in the spotlight with the 2026 relaunch of the Prince Edward County Arts Trail.
Credit:Jackson Coulter/Prince Edward County Arts Trail
The self-guided route connects visitors with studios, contemporary galleries and outdoor sculpture gardens across the region. It is designed for collectors, casual art lovers and anyone curious about the people creating work in The County.
Prince Edward County is home to more than 300 artists. Per Visit The County, PEC’s tourism department, it has the highest concentration of artists in Ontario and ranks seventh in Canada. That includes 70 painters, sculptors and other visual artists, 60 people working as producers, directors or choreographers, and 50 writers.
“Art has always been part of Prince Edward County’s identity,” said Sarah Fox, executive director of Visit The County. “The Arts Trail makes it easier for visitors to experience that creativity firsthand while exploring the region throughout the year.”
Credit: Oeno Gallery/Prince Edward County Arts Trail
Eight galleries are participating at launch: ANDARA Gallery, Tom Ashbourne Studio & Gallery, Mad Dog Gallery, Oeno Gallery, J. Douglas Thompson Fine Paintings, Melt Studio & Gallery, Guildworks and County Creative.
Their collections include sculpture, paintings, photography, ceramics, textiles, glass, furniture, prints and mixed-media work.
Several exhibitions are planned for the summer. “VORTEX” at ANDARA Gallery runs until September 7 and features work by Andrew Csafordi and Tara Wilkinson inspired by Astrid Young’s album. Andrew King’s summer exhibition opens at Mad Dog Gallery on August 1, while Bill Penner’s “Ceremony of Influence” opens July 30 at Melt Gallery. Susan Wallis’s “Night Moves” follows from September 3 to 27.
Prince Edward County Arts Trail Galleries:
Credit: Oeno Gallery/Prince Edward County Arts Trail
- ANDARA Gallery: Award-winning gallery, named Top 10 Best Art Galleries in Ontario (2025, 2026), where visitors can meet the artists and take part in hands-on workshops in a light-filled rural setting
- Tom Ashbourne Studio & Gallery: Visit a globally recognized sculptor’s working studio and experience large-scale stone and multi-media works up close
- Mad Dog Gallery: Established in 1990, this countryside gallery in a converted timber-frame barn showcases local artists across multiple mediums, with a long-standing showcase of local PEC artists
- Oeno Gallery: A destination gallery representing international and Canadian artists, set on a winery estate featuring a 3-acre sculpture garden
- J. Douglas Thompson Fine Paintings: Visit a working painter’s studio and gallery set on a peaceful rural property, with the artist on-site to walk you through his process
- Melt Studio & Gallery: A contemporary gallery inside a historic WWII barracks showcasing 25+ Canadian artists and an active encaustic studio
- Guildworks: Great for design-conscious travellers. A design-forward gallery representing 50+ Canadian artists and dedicated to Canadian handmade craft, featuring ceramics, textiles, glass, and more
- County Creative: Represents 25+ Canadian artists. A hybrid gallery and pottery studio where visitors can both shop and create their own pieces