For three decades, art enthusiasts — whether locals, cottagers, or visitors — have scheduled their trips to North Kawartha Township around the third weekend of September, so they can experience the annual Apsley Autumn Studio Tour in all its creative glory.
Now in its 31st year, the highly anticipated free self-guided tour is returning for 2024 on Saturday, September 21st and Sunday, September 22nd, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day.
With 30 local and visiting artists — including four artists who are joining this year’s tour for the first time — working in 11 cottage country studios, it’s a special artistic experience you can’t find anywhere else.
“Guests return year after year because of the beauty of Apsley,” says Susan Rankin, treasurer of the Apsley Autumn Studio Tour and a participating artist. “People have the leisure of leaving the cottage, driving around, seeing some great local art, and then going back to the dock to enjoy their treasures. It’s a real cottager’s weekend.”
For Rankin, that’s what makes it so unique compared to town tours: it’s not just an afternoon or day-long activity for most people.
“People will always invite their friends for girls’ weekends or cottage trips, so it’s never just one or two people in the studios,” she explains. “It’s always a carload of five or six people. Here, it’s a weekend-long event.”
The tour offers 11 stops across North Kawartha Township (one is near Coe Hill, just across the border in Hastings County), with many located on scenic and art-inspiring lakes. Most of the studios have more than one artist sharing the space, with visiting artists coming from as far as Peterborough or Durham Region.
While a printed map with all tour stops is available online or can be picked up at local businesses, you can also browse the list of locations and read artists’ bios by using the free Toureka! app, created by local software developer Brad Carson, which you can download from the Apple App Store or Google Play. Within the app, you can find the artists you are most interested in visiting and curate your own route for the weekend.
“The beauty of the app is you don’t need cell service for it to work,” says Rankin. “Even if you’re in a dead zone in cottage country, you’ll know where to go.”
Artists and artisans include painters, woodworkers, jewellery makers, glass blowers, weavers, potters, textile artists, and more, leaving it up to visitors to make the tour exactly what they want it to be.
“It’s a big tour and a lot of people will split it up in rotations, doing half of the artists one year and half another,” Rankin says. “The artists aren’t always the same and they’re always creating new work, so it’s different each year. We’re also seeing younger and newer visitors coming out to see the studios each year, which is always great.”
Returning visitors to the tour will notice that four artists have been added for the 31st tour, including retired art teacher and painter Andrew Gregg, weaver Jillian Messervery, wildlife painter Brenda Rudder, and — bringing the work of nature’s busiest artisans to the tour — beekeeper Marci Swift.
Though mediums and artists vary, Rankin assures that since it’s a juried process, visitors can be certain they’ll find high-calibre work available to browse and purchase at each of the studios.
“A lot of people don’t necessarily expect that,” she says. “We have people that come and are just blown away because they didn’t know there was such a community of professional and highly skilled artists in the region.”
During the two days, visitors will be step into working studios being used by the artists and even chat with them about their creative process.
“There aren’t many galleries that are showcasing work in the region anymore, and there’s not a lot of opportunity for people to see a diverse range of work except if they go to big craft shows,” Rankin notes. “The beauty of the studio tour is it’s not just about what an artist can fit in a 10-by-10 booth — it’s their own studio.”
At Rankin’s own studio — Studio F on the tour at 645 Jack Lake Road, which she shares with glass blower Brad Copping and painter David Smith — visitors will be able to explore the grounds, with metal sculptor Claire Scott-Taggart (Rusty Girl) and textile artist Jillian Messervey both on site with their displays set up outside.
“We have extensive gardens here, so it’s nice that we have artists using the space,” Rankin points out. “People like to just hang out and enjoy the nature around the property. Seeing the space and seeing the surroundings that are the inspiration for the artwork is a huge draw to the tour, and people really love talking with the artists.”
Studio F is one of several tour locations that will have regular live demonstrations throughout the weekend to introduce visitors to the creative processes behind the art work.
“You don’t necessarily know what you’re looking at if you don’t take the time to strike up a conversation with the artist,” Rankin says. “All of the artists really look forward to welcoming people in and sharing their passion.”
For your convenience, below is an alphabetized list of the artists participating in the 2024 Apsley Studio Tour, complete with their disciplines and tour stop locations.
Rachel Conlin (Artisan Wool, Studio O)
Raising sheep introduced Rachel Conlin to creating with wool from hand-spinning and dyeing their fibres to felting. Completely self-taught, Rachel makes unique and wearable accessories from nature’s materials and all wool creations are made from sustainable and renewable wool fibre. This year, Rachel can be found at her new studio location on Finnegan’s Lake, just outside Coe Hill.
Read more about Rachel Conlin.
Brad Copping (Visual Art and Glass Art, Studio F)
Working from his home on the edge of the Canadian Shield, Brad Copping maintains a successful practice as both a sculptor and a functional glass blower, often traversing the line between. His work examines how we live with each other within physical spaces, and often references water in some form. He will be doing hot glass demonstrations for his 30th year on the tour.
Read more about Brad Copping.
Jacques Deslauriers (Woodworking, Studio L)
Jacques Deslauriers is a self-taught woodworker who uses only wood from dead or fallen trees. Gnarls, insect holes, and spalted wood are his materials of choice. He is always ready for a creative challenge of any size.
Read more about Jacques Deslauriers.
Valerie Foster (Fibre Art, Studio E)
Valerie Foster has been sewing for over 40 years starting with clothing for herself and her family, which eventually grew into a children’s clothing home business in Calgary. After moving to Saudi Arabia in 2000, she brought her seamstress skills into the practice of machine quilting. Valerie enjoys the mathematical aspects of quilting. She has grown to also love the practice of free motion quilting. Since 2005, Valarie and her husband Ted have spent the bulk of her summers at Chandos Lake in Apsley. Valarie and Ted repatriated to their log home on Chandos Lake in 2015.
Read more about Valerie Foster.
Mary Ellen Gerster (Painting, Studio H)
Mary Ellen Gerster sees the world according to shape, value, and colour, immersing the viewer in her bright and glowing watercolour paintings. Through the layering of transparent colours she creates photo realism in her still life, fruit, flowers and waterscapes. She is inspired and challenged by subjects with strong lights, shadows, shapes, colours and is especially drawn to high contrast and bright colours.
Read more about Mary Ellen Gerster.
Andrew Gregg (Painting, Studio J)
Retired art teacher Andrew Gregg is new to the Apsley Studio Tour this year. Although he has made art since his childhood in rural Australia and has been featured in local exhibitions, he mostly paints for pleasure while spending the summers on Rathbun Lake in Kawartha Highlands Provincial Park.
Read more about Andrew Gregg.
David Grieve (Painting, Studio G)
First introduced to oil painting as a child, David Grieve has been painting ever since and has developed a unique distinctive style. He uses a multi-layered technique, applying thick swaths of oil paint to create images inspired by the Ontario landscape.
Read more about David Grieve.
Anja Hertle (Mosaics, Studio J)
Anja Hertle works with broken china, pottery, porcelain figurines, and tile to give these elements a second life in her whimsical mosaic art pieces. She also incorporates forks, beads, buttons, bottle caps, and typewriter keys.
Read more about Anja Hertle.
Dolores Hopps (Fabric Art, Studio H)
Dolores Hopps’ work includes quilts, using imported fabrics from England and Japan, as well as wall hangings, runners, and smaller items. Many of her pieces have wool felting incorporated into the quilting, as well as beads, silk, and quite a number of other interesting embellishments.
Read more about Dolores Hopps.
Melanie Edson Horner (Pottery, Studio J)
A member of Kawartha Potters Guild and Spirit of the Hills Art Association, Melanie Edson Horner enjoys creating personalized pottery, particularly clocks. She also enjoys making one-off pieces and has been exploring raku and experimenting with horsehair and feathers.
Read more about Melanie Edson Horner.
Carolyn Jongeward (Visual Arts, Studio L)
Carolyn Jongeward’s artwork includes abstract paintings and handwoven tapestries that embodies geometric forms, numerical rhythms, or unexpected imagery that emerges at the loom without prior design. Her art has been exhibited in Canada, U.S.A., and England.
Read more about Carolyn Jongeward.
Jillian Messervey (Textiles, Studio F)
A new guest artist this year, Jillian Messervey is a Peterborough-based weaver who is inspired by colours and textures she sees in nature, and who uses natural fibres and traditional patterns to make hard-working and functional pieces that also decorate the home or wearer. Her blankets, scarved, and towels are woven by hand on her antique floor looms.
Read more about Jillian Messervey.
Barbara Miszkiel (Painting, Studio B)
After a successful career both nationally and internationally in architecture, Barbara Miszkiel has returned to her original interest in fine arts, painting primarily in acrylics. Although Barbara has created new buildings most of her career, in painting she is drawn to old buildings, live subjects and landscapes.
Read more about Barbara Miszkiel.
Molly Moldovan (Visual Arts, Studio M)
The starting point for all of Molly Moldovan’s work is the pristine landscape that surrounds her: the lake, forest, and uninterrupted skyscape are the foundation of every piece she paints. A visual artist whose primary focus is abstraction, she works primarily in acrylic and mixed media.
Read more about Molly Moldovan.
Britt Olauson (Woodworking, Studio C)
Britt designs functional furniture and other objects in wood, and her designs are often playful or interactive.
Read more about Britt Olauson.
Kelly O’Neill (Visual Arts, Studio M)
Kelly O’Neill is a multidisciplinary visual artist who enjoys the immediacy of dry materials in her drawing practice, and engages with found objects, natural materials, video, assemblage, and textile practices to create three-dimensional forms and installations. The Selwyn-based artist studied sculpture and installation at Toronto’s OCAD University and Her work has been shown in galleries in Ontario, Quebec, and British Columbia.
Read more about Kelly O’Neill.
Tom Parsons (Woodworking, Studio B)
Tom Parsons specializes in handcrafted solid wood furniture made from one-of-a-kind pieces. From coffee and end tables, charcuterie and cribbage boards, to sculptural works, he is inspired by the beauty of wood in its many forms.
Read more about Tom Parsons.
Joeann Pearson (Glass Mosaic Art, Studio K)
Joeann Pearson has been making non-traditional stained glass mosaics for 25 years. Her style is to make mosaics that use deliberately shaped, hand-cut larger pieces that are sometimes hand painted which are usually only used in the making of windows. She has always sought out nature spots to indulge in present moment awareness, and feels nature guides her work. After decades of visiting the family cottage on Chandos, she now resides full time on a small rural homestead in Apsley.
Read more about Joeann Pearson.
Judy Ranieri (Fibre Art, Studio E)
After working for many years in the tech industry, Judy Ranieri retired and began to explore her creative passions. Many of Judy’s projects are inspired by nature and utilize natural fibres, fabric, colour, design, and textures to create one of a kind textile and fabric art pieces.
Read more about Rudy Ranieri.
Susan Rankin (Glass Art, Studio F)
In her 30-year career as a glass artist, Susan Rankin has drawn inspiration from the landscape in which she lives. An avid gardener, she continues to explore the idea of garden through her vessel and sculptural works and is well known for her vibrant floral vessels.
Read more about Susan Rankin.
Brenda Rudder (Painting, Studio E)
New to the tour this year, Brenda Rudder is a wildlife artist who specializes in creating artworks on natural wood. Her pieces are rich in intricate details and vibrant colours, showcasing a deep connection and passion for the natural world. Having experimented with many media over the years, she now solely uses acrylics on reclaimed wood scraps from a local mill.
Read more about Brenda Rudder.
Kathy Robichaud (Stained Glass, Studio H)
Kathy Robichaud has been a stained glass artist for over 25 years, using traditional techniques to produce stained glass art. Concentrating on the copper foil method, Kathy looks to nature for inspiration.
Read more about Kathy Robichaud.
Arne Roosman (Painting, Studio C)
Arne Roosman revisits his sketch book and paints his canvas with his travels to Sweden, Italy, and Estonia, and life’s inspirations in tow.
Read more about Arne Roosman.
Aubre Scott (Pyrography, Studio H)
Aubre Scott (Piping Hot Pyro Studio) is an emerging artist based out of Whitby. She began working with pyrography (wood-burning) in 2021, gaining inspiration from the scenery, landscapes, and wildlife of the local area.
Read more about Aubre Scott.
Catharine Scott (Jewellery, Studio H)
Catharine Scott is a self-taught artisan who is inspired by the natural beauty of coloured gem stones, the ability to form and create meaningful pieces of art through wire working, and her own creative style of stringing that can be worn at any time of the day with any style of fashion.
Read more about Catharine Scott.
Clare Scott-Taggart aka Rusty Girl (Metal Sculpture, Studio F)
Clare Scott-Taggart (Rusty Girl) has worked in metal for the past 30 years. She maintains a small studio in Thousand Islands where she recently moved and continues to create birdbaths, climbers, and trellises.
Read more about Clare Scott-Taggart.
David Smith (Painting, Studio F)
David Smith is inspired to create new works in watercolour, acrylic, and oil by the surrounding landscape. Painting full time following a career in advertising, graphic design, and colour retouching, he applies this knowledge and skill into his paintings.
Read more about David Smith.
Judy Sparkes (Pottery, Studio H)
Obsessed with the relationship between great food and handmade pottery, Judy Sparkes believes eating from handmade pots elevates the dining experience. Her work is carefully hand crafted to be enjoyed as everyday art.
Read more about Judy Sparkes.
Marci Swift (Beekeeping, Studio O)
New to the tour this year, Marci Smith is the “queen bee” behind Swift Acres Apiary & Farm in Apsley, where she and her family offer raw unpasteurized honey products, beeswax candles, and natural body essentials like beeswax lip balm and goat’s milk soap.
Read more about Marci Swift.
Silver Timbers (Sterling Silver Jewellery, Studio M)
From the delicate to the dramatic, Silver Timbers’ jewellery designs are timeless treasures, which will serve as wearable art for years to come.
“I believe that jewellery is an essential element of attire,” the artist states. “Even when I am riding camels in the Moroccan desert, I wear my bracelets. My pieces are designed to be worn 24/7 wherever you are in the world.”
Read more about Silver Timbers.
2024 Apsley Autumn Studio Tour Map
2024 Apsley Autumn Studio Tour MapYou can also download a printable version of the map.
First launched in 1994, the Apsley Autumn Studio Tour creates public awareness of the arts by promoting and supporting artists in the community.
For more information on the 2024 Apsley Autumn Studio Tour, visit apsleystudiotour.com. You can also follow the Apsley Autumn Studio Tour on Facebook and Instagram.
This branded editorial was created in partnership with the Apsley Autumn Studio Tour. If your organization or business is interested in a branded editorial, contact us.
