Back by popular demand!
Welcome to The Stratford Artists Takeover Show featuring over 30 local Stratford artists.
The shop is organized in alphabetical order by artists.
Shipping cost may not be accurate and a credit will be issued in such a circumstance.
Scroll through, click on the arrows to see more and enjoy!
Any questions, give us a call or send us an email!
ANN BENJAMIN
I try to see the magic in everyday moments and bring them to life through my paintings. Over the last 50 years I have evolved by exploring new techniques and mediums, including my latest adventure into multidimensional art. By embracing diversity, I strive to challenge traditional notions and invite viewers to embark on a journey out or the box.
HANNAH BENNETT
I’m an acrylic portrait maker. I use whatever canvas-like-material I can get my hands on and paint portraits. I typically use non-traditional colours in my artwork bringing a different tone to each of my works. I use colours that reflect the people.
EMMA BLOWES
Emma Blowes is a local student artist currently studying at the University of Guelph in Studio Art. On track to graduate in 2026 with a Bachelor of Arts. Emma was born and raised in Stratford, Ontario and comes home often as her parents live in Stratford as well. Emma has worked in multiple local art galleries, art camps, and has been a vendor in multiple local art markets. Emma loves to try new things, so she has a lot of art from different mediums, including more adventurous mediums like printmaking, photography, sculpture, etc. yet she mostly works in watercolor and acrylic. Emma really enjoys colour and having fun with her art, she is quite a type b artist, laid back and enjoying herself. She mostly finds inspiration through the nature of beautiful Stratford. Emma would be honoured to be apart of the Stratford Artist Takeover Show at Matilda Gallery and Bar.
HENRY BUKENYA
I am an acrylic portrait artist from Uganda. Recently, I had a 6-week solo show at Station Gallery in St. Mary's, ON. I grew up as an orphan in Uganda and was not doing well in school, where I liked to draw in my school books. I was caned for doing so but eventually, a new art teacher realized that I had a calling and opened my eyes to the world of art. While in the Neema orphanage, I completed primary school and for 5 years, I travelled to Canada with the Neema Children's Choir. Eventually I enrolled in a 2-year program at the Michelangelo College of Creative Arts in Kisubi, Uganda, where I earned my certificate in Art and Design Skills. I am so appreciative of my art teacher, Mr. Isaac, and others who recognized my calling and encouraged me to pursue a meaningful life in the arts.
CATHERINE BUTLER
The Catherine Butler Collection is a Stratford-based (by way of Niagara-on-the-Lake and Toronto), independently owned jewellery and art business. It all began back in 2008 with Catherine making jewellery out of a love for creating one-of-a-kind statement pieces using vintage materials and unique stones, with some of the proceeds of the sales going towards helping take care of her special needs rescue dog. A couple of years later, and with new rescues in tow, Catherine picked up a paint brush and a new creative outlet was born. Catherine is happiest when at home, creating and surrounded by her furry coworkers.
KAYLA BUTT
As an artist working with mixed medium, Kayla Butt combines aspects of collage, found imagery, and acrylic paint to explore the ephemeral nature of memory and the complexity of identity. Her work is informed by a fascination with nostalgia, and the way that our recollections of the past help shape who we are in the present. Through her art, Kayla Butt seeks to create a dialogue about the personal relationship we have with our memories and the emotions they evoke. By layering different textures and images, she aims to capture the fragmented and fleeting nature of these experiences, as well as the ways in which they can be simultaneously vivid and elusive. Ultimately, my goal is to engage a wider audience in a reflection on the power of memory to shape our sense of self. By prompting viewers to consider their own experiences of nostalgia and the role it plays in their lives, I hope to create a space for contemplation and connection.
NANCY CALDER
I have always been drawn to realism, to create a sense of life and living from a blank canvas or piece of paper. I find the concept of realism, absolutely fascinating. I am always surprised and amused by the degree of dimension that can be achieved, a feeling that one can almost reach into a painting and touch the objects in a still life, or catch the eye of the of the subject in a portrait. I love both the intensity and vibrancy of the oil paints, yet it can also be such a subtle medium.
I was born and raised in Toronto and a number of years ago relocated to Stratford Ontario.
Although my journey didn’t begin until later in life when time and finances allowed, it was more than rewarding. My education started with graphite, moving into carbon, charcoal and finally oil paint. Initially I enrolled into the Academy of Realist Art to pursue my love of the human figure, but as I progressed through the program, I became very fond of painting still life. In the fall of 2013, I earned my diploma.
I was born and raised in Toronto and a number of years ago relocated to Stratford Ontario.
Although my journey didn’t begin until later in life when time and finances allowed, it was more than rewarding. My education started with graphite, moving into carbon, charcoal and finally oil paint. Initially I enrolled into the Academy of Realist Art to pursue my love of the human figure, but as I progressed through the program, I became very fond of painting still life. In the fall of 2013, I earned my diploma.
CELESTE CARTER
Celeste Carter (she/they) is a printmaker and interdisciplinary artist based in Stratford and Guelph, ON. Celeste reflects on the industrial history and flat aesthetics inherent in printmaking processes to generate patterns and motifs from nature and her collection of secondhand objects. Celeste often combines prints on ephemeral and archival surfaces with mass-produced and found materials to examine production cycles and the permanence of waste.
Celeste holds an Honours BA in Studio Art with a minor in Art History from the University of Guelph (2024). Celeste has recently exhibited their work in Guelph at Otherwise Studios, Art Not Shame, Zavitz Gallery, and Lalani Jennings Contemporary Art. They were a mentee in Guelph Arts Council’s Guelph Emerging Artist Mentorship Program (2022) and a recipient of the University of Guelph’s Samuel and Saidye Bronfman Family Foundation Printmaking Prize (2023). Celeste was the 2024 Print Artist in Residence at Otherwise Studios (Guelph), where they completed their culminating solo exhibition "Precious Projections"(2025). Celeste’s work is on view in "Two Bodies Converge in Felt" a two-person exhibition at Necessary Arts Collective in (Guelph), from May 13th–20th 2025.
Celeste holds an Honours BA in Studio Art with a minor in Art History from the University of Guelph (2024). Celeste has recently exhibited their work in Guelph at Otherwise Studios, Art Not Shame, Zavitz Gallery, and Lalani Jennings Contemporary Art. They were a mentee in Guelph Arts Council’s Guelph Emerging Artist Mentorship Program (2022) and a recipient of the University of Guelph’s Samuel and Saidye Bronfman Family Foundation Printmaking Prize (2023). Celeste was the 2024 Print Artist in Residence at Otherwise Studios (Guelph), where they completed their culminating solo exhibition "Precious Projections"(2025). Celeste’s work is on view in "Two Bodies Converge in Felt" a two-person exhibition at Necessary Arts Collective in (Guelph), from May 13th–20th 2025.
PAIGE CONNELL
Paige Connell was born in Cambridge, Ontario. She received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Studio Art from the University of Guelph in 2012 where her practice focused on drawing, painting, and printmaking. Connell has exhibited her works in Kitchener and Toronto. She currently lives and works in Stratford, Ontario.
Composed mainly of portraits and figures (human and meteorological), her work examines our psychological inner lives. Using personal and found imagery as reference material, she explores subjects of memory, strangeness, and heavy emotion in a delicate effort to embody the parts of us not always visible. Drawing from her own elaborate inner life and inspiration from the experiences of others she creates expressive figures with intentional ambiguity to evoke curiosity and leave room for individual interpretation.
Composed mainly of portraits and figures (human and meteorological), her work examines our psychological inner lives. Using personal and found imagery as reference material, she explores subjects of memory, strangeness, and heavy emotion in a delicate effort to embody the parts of us not always visible. Drawing from her own elaborate inner life and inspiration from the experiences of others she creates expressive figures with intentional ambiguity to evoke curiosity and leave room for individual interpretation.
SAL CUCCI
Sal is a self taught artist who focuses on Abstract Visual Art pieces., primarily using Acrylic paint. He is also an instructor of Intuitive Abstract methods and is teaching at the Elora Centre For The Arts. Sal's vision is for the artist and the appreciator to see unique representations in pieces of art that are created via the Intuitive Method, which involves no pre-planning of the project. With the exception of commission pieces that Sal has completed for customers, he follows this intuitive method and utilizes the tools and techniques he has learned over his career so far. Sal has retired from his day job to focus on writing and painting as his creative outlets and loves to share his knowledge with his students and anyone that is interested. Recently, Sal has attempted a collaboration piece with a fellow artist and is hoping to continue this new innovative way to take two styles and merge them in creating new pieces of art.
BO DAVEY
My love and connection with nature and the spirit residing in that realm form the foundation for my art. I am a self taught artist in acrylics and consider myself to be an intuitive artist with many references to spirit.
Painting brought me my only positive outlet for coping with severe mental health issues throughout my life and ultimately a sense of healing. As such, I consider myself a healer as much as I do an artist.
I use nature as the metaphor to describe the experiences throughout my journey. This allows me to remain authentic and on a path of truth which became the doorway to healing.
I earned a bachelor of mathematics degree from Waterloo University and have learned to embrace the conflicts that go with being both hyper logical and hyper creative. My career background is in corporate systems development but most recently began devoting myself to work full time on my art.
I remain versatile and open to what might come next. This allows me to constantly challenge myself and grow as a person and as an artist. For within that mindset exists the passion and courage for what I hope will inspire others to explore at any age.....
Self Discovery.
Painting brought me my only positive outlet for coping with severe mental health issues throughout my life and ultimately a sense of healing. As such, I consider myself a healer as much as I do an artist.
I use nature as the metaphor to describe the experiences throughout my journey. This allows me to remain authentic and on a path of truth which became the doorway to healing.
I earned a bachelor of mathematics degree from Waterloo University and have learned to embrace the conflicts that go with being both hyper logical and hyper creative. My career background is in corporate systems development but most recently began devoting myself to work full time on my art.
I remain versatile and open to what might come next. This allows me to constantly challenge myself and grow as a person and as an artist. For within that mindset exists the passion and courage for what I hope will inspire others to explore at any age.....
Self Discovery.
LAURA DOUGHTY
Laura is a local mix media artist that began her art journey as a way to heal. Mainly focusing on oil pastel mediums, Laura likes to incorporate themes of pleasure and beauty within the human body and the connection we have with nature within those themes. Laura continues to learn and grow as she goes deeper into her art journey.
LIZ EMIRZIAN
My name is Liz Emirzian, I am an artist and illustrator in Stratford. I split my time between doing fine art and more stylized illustrations for publication or commercial use. I have a Bachelors Degree from Ontario College of Art and Design University, majoring in Illustration.
My artistic career began in childhood, surrounded by my father’s paints and sketch pads. Over the years, my passion for art has continued to grow, and I’m always excited to begin a new painting or experiment with different mediums.
In the past year, I’ve completed two mural projects for the Stratford BIA, including half of the nature-themed concrete blocks downtown and the large heart mural on Downie Street. I also fully illustrated a children’s book for a client, which was published last year, and I’m currently working on the sequel, set to be released this year.
Alongside these projects, I continue to create fine art paintings and have developed a product line featuring my artwork, which I sell at markets and online. I feel very fortunate to be able to expand my work and share it with a wide audience.
My artistic career began in childhood, surrounded by my father’s paints and sketch pads. Over the years, my passion for art has continued to grow, and I’m always excited to begin a new painting or experiment with different mediums.
In the past year, I’ve completed two mural projects for the Stratford BIA, including half of the nature-themed concrete blocks downtown and the large heart mural on Downie Street. I also fully illustrated a children’s book for a client, which was published last year, and I’m currently working on the sequel, set to be released this year.
Alongside these projects, I continue to create fine art paintings and have developed a product line featuring my artwork, which I sell at markets and online. I feel very fortunate to be able to expand my work and share it with a wide audience.
MARK HARRIS
Illustrator living in Stratford
SHARON KATZ
Art is my therapy, my joy, my escape, my voice.
KEVIN KEMP
After working as a scenic painter in film and theatre in Toronto, I moved with my family to Stratford and began work with the Stratford Festival and teaching scenic paint with the Off The Wall artist alliance. After 30 years, I have retired and continue to paint and study music.
CLAIRE KENDALL
After leaving a successful career in television production and moving to Stratford, Claire Kendall has concentrated on her art full-time. She has studied at the Ottawa School of Art, as well as with individual artists, and primarily works with acrylic and oil paints. She will frequently incorporate a twist to the expected portrayal of her subject, whether it be through her use of colour or the creative interpretation of her subject matter.
AMANDA LUNDRIGAN
I was introduced to the joys of gardening at the young age of 4 by my grandmother. Planting impatient flowers around the tree base in my backyard sparked a lifelong love of nature and beauty.
Around age 12, I discovered my father's old Yashica analog camera in the closet, and a new passion was born. With my father's guidance, I began experimenting with photography, often using his camera and receiving support through film and photo printing.
Although I am mostly self-taught, I took photography classes during high school and university to refine my skills and explore new techniques. These classes taught me the fundamentals of film photography and darkroom photo printing. I now use a variety of digital cameras and throughout this journey, I've come to appreciate the idea that the best camera is the one you have with you, regardless of its type or capabilities.
Having built a large collection of images since I first picked up a camera, it wasn’t until 2019 when I began to share my work with the world as a participating artist of the New Hamburg Art Tour.
In 2023, my work ‘Autumn Delight’ was chosen to be part of the 2023 Minto Juried Art Show. I continue to seek out venues and events to display and sell my work.
I currently live in Stratford, ON. A large part of my collection has been shot while walking my furbaby, Monty around Stratford - particularly around Upper Queens and the Stratford Festival.
Around age 12, I discovered my father's old Yashica analog camera in the closet, and a new passion was born. With my father's guidance, I began experimenting with photography, often using his camera and receiving support through film and photo printing.
Although I am mostly self-taught, I took photography classes during high school and university to refine my skills and explore new techniques. These classes taught me the fundamentals of film photography and darkroom photo printing. I now use a variety of digital cameras and throughout this journey, I've come to appreciate the idea that the best camera is the one you have with you, regardless of its type or capabilities.
Having built a large collection of images since I first picked up a camera, it wasn’t until 2019 when I began to share my work with the world as a participating artist of the New Hamburg Art Tour.
In 2023, my work ‘Autumn Delight’ was chosen to be part of the 2023 Minto Juried Art Show. I continue to seek out venues and events to display and sell my work.
I currently live in Stratford, ON. A large part of my collection has been shot while walking my furbaby, Monty around Stratford - particularly around Upper Queens and the Stratford Festival.
ANDREA MASELLA
As far back as I can remember, I was drawing. I may not have been the best artist in my 6th grade class, but I've had a passion for as long as I've known how to hold a pencil. My art is heavily inspired by real life, as I feel that I thrive in realism, however
I've begun to enjoy a more cartoon-ish style as well! If I'm not making portraits or studying still life scenery, I find that expressing various mental health struggles through my art is something that I am proud of. I have experienced a variety of symptoms and diagnoses,
but this healthy coping mechanism has been helpful through it all. Some days, I don't have the words to express my emotions, even to myself, but I find that art sometimes portrays these feelings better than any other method of expression.
As well as visual arts, I enjoy playing both the piano and clarinet, and I have a strong passion for science, in particular astrophysics. I am gradually pursuing this interest at McMaster University.
I believe that my well rounded enjoyment of subjects in many areas makes me a better artist. I can pull from these topics and create pieces that make me happy, and express real experiences that others can relate to in one way or another
I've begun to enjoy a more cartoon-ish style as well! If I'm not making portraits or studying still life scenery, I find that expressing various mental health struggles through my art is something that I am proud of. I have experienced a variety of symptoms and diagnoses,
but this healthy coping mechanism has been helpful through it all. Some days, I don't have the words to express my emotions, even to myself, but I find that art sometimes portrays these feelings better than any other method of expression.
As well as visual arts, I enjoy playing both the piano and clarinet, and I have a strong passion for science, in particular astrophysics. I am gradually pursuing this interest at McMaster University.
I believe that my well rounded enjoyment of subjects in many areas makes me a better artist. I can pull from these topics and create pieces that make me happy, and express real experiences that others can relate to in one way or another
JANINE MINOR
Janine Minor is a mixed media artist living in Stratford, Ontario, after a career in teaching visual art. She works with paper, wax and relics from nature, in high relief or three dimensions. Inspired by both natural and manmade processes, she combines handmade and found materials to simulate structures, surfaces, and the stories they suggest.
LAURA MOWBRAY
LAURA MOWBRAY & COURTNEY OTHEN
KATE MULRONEY
Emerging Stratford artist taking a long, loving look at the Real.
NICOLE PULLEN
My name is Nicole Pullen and I am an emerging artist here in Stratford Ontario. My art explores emotional narratives through fluid, layered compositions that draw from my intuition. My own unique style that is full of colour and movement. I work primarily with watercolour and acrylic, mixed media focusing on nature, my surroundings and thoughts and feelings within.
DEVON ROULTSTON
Devon Roulston is an artist, musician and woodworker based out of Stratford, ON, Canada, who holds a Bachelor degree in Percussion Performance from Wilfrid Laurier University. She creates abstract watercolour and acrylic paintings that give people permission to take a moment out of their busy lives to enjoy the beauty of colour, shape and form. Her work provides a pleasurable and immersive experience that allows people to feel intrigued and engaged in their own creative sides. She studied acrylic painting with local artist, Scott Fillier in 2004, and wood engraving with Gerard Brender à Brandis in 2006. Her biggest inspirations come from nature, experiencing other artists work, and from the freedom of expression that comes from abstraction.
DOROTA RUTHKOWSKA
Dorota is an artist, a mom, a retired teacher, an entrepreneur, an animal & nature lover, and an avid reader & learner.
Dorota has discovered painting quite by accident in 2015. She bought an art kit as a gift for someone and ended up using it herself. Paintings emerged and Dorota discovered a connection to new worlds and dimensions.
Dorota has always had a “soulful” streak, avidly learning about different spiritual practices & traditions of the world, sacred plants, spirit animals and past lives. She participated in many ceremonies, sacred circles and fell in love with drums, drumming and sacred sound. She has always had an interest in human psyche, the workings of our brain and our “shadow self”
Dorota has discovered painting quite by accident in 2015. She bought an art kit as a gift for someone and ended up using it herself. Paintings emerged and Dorota discovered a connection to new worlds and dimensions.
Dorota has always had a “soulful” streak, avidly learning about different spiritual practices & traditions of the world, sacred plants, spirit animals and past lives. She participated in many ceremonies, sacred circles and fell in love with drums, drumming and sacred sound. She has always had an interest in human psyche, the workings of our brain and our “shadow self”
SANDRA SALISBURY-PATTERSON
Financial analyst by day, creator of glorious nonsense by night. I'm a lifelong Stratford resident specializing in lush oil paintings and elaborate jewelled reliquaries.
MICHAEL SILLERS
Michael Sillers was born in London, Ontario and raised in various parts of southern Ontario. He studied experimental arts and painting at the Ontario College of Art in Toronto. Having spent several years in the photographic industry, Sillers has concentrated on bringing a painters vision to photography. His work blends a manufactured environment with an organic overlay showing the organic nature of even the most artificial of constructs. He has shown in Argentina, the United States, and Canada.
TANYA SILLERS
Having always learned visually and taken in more by seeing than any other sense, Sillers has seen humanity’s expressions, postures and the slant of our shadows. Her work expresses the excitement of urban life flashing by while allowing her and others to feel a part of it. Photography has given Sillers extraordinary freedom to capture this. She feels it is the responsibility of the artist to reveal meaning and she tries to show a balance of strength and subtlety in her pictures that reflects the living beauty of our world.
Tanya Sillers’ pictures are taken with traditional photographic film or digital. The images are at times skewed or out of focus to reveal the movement of life in even the most still of subjects. The best of the resulting images are cropped and printed on fine art paper using archival inks in limited editions. This creates prints that last longer than traditional photographs while giving a wonderful sense of living texture.
Tanya Sillers’ pictures are taken with traditional photographic film or digital. The images are at times skewed or out of focus to reveal the movement of life in even the most still of subjects. The best of the resulting images are cropped and printed on fine art paper using archival inks in limited editions. This creates prints that last longer than traditional photographs while giving a wonderful sense of living texture.
BRENDA STOREY
Brenda Storey is a self-taught artist. Facing the isolation and limitations of Environmental Illness since 2010, she discovered the world of watercolour in 2016. She began showing her work publicly in 2019. Using gestural ink drawings and limited palettes, faces have been a favorite subject. With a recent discovery of lower VOC acrylics more expressive spontaneous pieces, incorporating collage work, are emerging. Constantly growing, ever evolving, whether abstract or figurative; human emotions, environmental messages, or local scenes are the focus of her work.
ADAM VANDERHEIDE
In his experiments with narrative and comics Vanderheide expresses his love of storytelling.
WILMA VANDERHEIDE
ZACHARY VOROS
MELISSA WALKER
Melissa Walker grew up in Goderich in the Maitland River valley. She has lived for the past twenty years with her husband in Stratford, Ontario, and teaches English and Visual Arts at the international high school, “Nancy Campbell Academy.” Melissa’s first passion in life has always been literature and writing, but art has been a close second and may soon share the podium with words. Her joy is her eight-year-old son.
JULIANNE WALLER
I’m inspired by exploring the everyday experiences of women and the ways we connect with the world around us. By portraying ordinary situations and objects in unexpected ways, my work creates moments of joy, surprise, and reflection.
My artistic style combines mixed media techniques – blending acrylic paint, ink, vintage ephemera, coloured pencils and even bingo daubers. This playful and varied approach results in visually engaging pieces that encourage viewers to connect with the art in their own personal way.
While my artwork draws on my own life and viewpoint, it also reflects common human experiences. Through vibrant colours, patterns, and a touch of humour, I challenge viewers to reconsider familiar ideas and better understand the intricacies of our social environment.
Ultimately, my goal is to create art that not only brings happiness but also invites people to see the world in fresh and interesting ways. By mixing the familiar with the unexpected, I hope my work sparks curiosity and wonder, inspiring meaningful connections with each piece.
My artistic style combines mixed media techniques – blending acrylic paint, ink, vintage ephemera, coloured pencils and even bingo daubers. This playful and varied approach results in visually engaging pieces that encourage viewers to connect with the art in their own personal way.
While my artwork draws on my own life and viewpoint, it also reflects common human experiences. Through vibrant colours, patterns, and a touch of humour, I challenge viewers to reconsider familiar ideas and better understand the intricacies of our social environment.
Ultimately, my goal is to create art that not only brings happiness but also invites people to see the world in fresh and interesting ways. By mixing the familiar with the unexpected, I hope my work sparks curiosity and wonder, inspiring meaningful connections with each piece.
LEAH WELLS
My inspiration began with my roots; growing up on a farm. I fell in love with big skies over the open fields and the colours during sunsets. My paintings resemble the way I view the world, bright and optimistic. I strive to capture my positive outlook on life with the fluid medium, paired with my love for colour and all things handmade When the pandemic began, I threw myself headfirst into my art and was reunited with my passion but in a more expressive way. I discovered a unique way of painting in acrylic pouring. With a measured combination of acrylic paints, oils and conditioners, I am able to create a fluid paint that is loose and unpredictable. The bubble patterns known as 'cells' are unique in each piece and bring a more granular interest to my work.
MARION YOUNAN
I have a wanderlust and a wonder-lust that influences the artwork I create as a full-time ink and watercolour artist. In these highly-detailed works, I capture the places and moments at home and in travels abroad that have left me in awe, with a profound appreciation or an insatiable curiosity. With every painting, my intention is always to make the viewer feel like they are in these special places, standing alongside me – igniting their own memories and a burning desire to go exploring.
