Looking for unique things to do in North Durham this September? Take the back roads through the beautiful countryside north of Uxbridge for a day filled with art, local food, fascinating creative spaces and a few unexpected discoveries.
This northern Uxbridge Studio Tour itinerary makes a fantastic day trip from Toronto, York Region and Port Perry. Along the way, you'll step inside working artist studios, meet some remarkable Canadian artists, discover locally grown and made finds, and enjoy the kind of country roads that make getting there part of the experience.
And because this route forms a loop, there's really no beginning or end!
Hop onto the route at whichever stop is most convenient for you, then simply keep following the loop. We've started our suggested itinerary at Studio 16, but visitors coming from Markham, Port Perry, York Region or elsewhere in Durham may find another starting point makes more sense. Make the day your own!
The North Durham Art Tour Look At a Glance
Full studio details are below, but here's a quick overview to keep handy on Tour weekend.
A quick note: This is a suggested route, so go at your own pace. Times driving, parking, and enjoying studios vary; use the Tour Map or Toureka! app to navigate and adjust your day as you go. Visitors participate and travel between locations at their own discretion and risk. If you're not sure what this free, self-guided art tour really is, check out our handy 'how-to' guide and get ready for a great day out!
Suggested Route Summary
STUDIO 16 | MARY PHILPOTT
Mary Philpott • Nancy R. Chalut
STUDIO 20 | CARMEL BRENNAN
Carmel Brennan • Lynda Cunningham • Craig Telfer • David Greaves
STUDIO 21 | TINKL GALLERY
Judith Tinkl • Nicholas Tinkl • Viktor Tinkl
LUNCH & LOCAL FINDS
Tindall Farm & Market • Rooster Fries
STUDIO 19 | BISHOP & LOACH
Lynn Bishop • Tom Loach • Daniel Colby • Monique van Wel
STUDIO 17 | CYNTHIA CUPPLES
Cynthia Cupples
STUDIO 2 | RASHMI BAIRD
Rashmi Baird • LeeAnna Deringer
STUDIO 7 | FIRST EDITIONS*
Tucked in the back of Blue Heron Books • Lineup to be announced
DINNER IN UXBRIDGE!
Urban Pantry • 9 by Tin
TOO EARLY FOR DINNER?
Stop at Passionate Cook's Essentials for charcuterie to take along on your country drive. Or visit Fig Kitchen for lunch on the patio, in their dining room, or to go.
Remember: This is a suggested route, not a schedule. Start anywhere on the loop, linger wherever something catches your eye, and make the day your own.
Country Roads, Creative Spaces & Plenty of Art
There's something special about visiting an artist where the work actually happens.
Head north from Uxbridge and the town quickly gives way to winding roads, open countryside and some wonderfully unexpected creative destinations. This is the Studio Tour at its most rural, a chance to explore North Durham while discovering artists and places you might otherwise drive right past.
Begin our version of the loop at Studio 16, home of ceramic artist Mary Philpott, whose distinctive sculptural work is inspired by the natural world. Joining her at the studio is painter Nancy R. Chalut, whose work brings another creative perspective to this stop. Together, their work makes Studio 16 a wonderful place to begin the northern loop. Take some time to explore the studio, meet the artists and discover what happens when clay, imagination and a close observation of the natural world come together.
Visiting the studio gives you the opportunity to see her work in the environment where it is created—and to discover what happens when clay, imagination and a healthy appreciation for the animal world come together.
At Studio 20, the route brings you to the studio of Carmel Brennan, where you can explore her photography, paintings and encaustic pieces alongside the work of her guest artists, painters Lynda Cunningham and David Greaves, and woodworker Craig Telfer.
Carmel’s work offers one distinctive creative perspective, while the guest artists bring their own materials, techniques and artistic approaches to the space. That variety is one of the pleasures of visiting a studio like this: within the space of a short country drive, the artwork and creative experience can change completely.
Take your time, meet the artist, ask questions and look around. No need to rush to the next stop.
Next up is Studio 21, where the art is EVERYWHERE! At the Tinkl studio, you can enjoy the creative work of Judith Tinkl and Nicholas Tinkl while being completely engulfed by the works of Viktor Tinkl. It's like an art hug.
Studio visits like this are what distinguish the Uxbridge Studio Tour from a conventional gallery outing. You're not simply looking at finished artwork on a wall. You're entering the places where ideas are developed over years, materials are experimented with, and the work itself comes to life.
Struggling to pull yourself away from this one-of-a-kind stop? Perhaps it's time to think about adding a second studio tour day trip to your weekend!
But now, having explored three studios, your next stop offers a different kind of creativity - FOOD!
A TASTE OF NORTH DURHAM | TINDALL FARM & MARKET or ROOSTER FRIES
Time for a delicious detour. Stop at Tindall Farm & Market, one of our valued Studio Tour sponsors, and enjoy a little more of what North Durham has to offer. Explore the market and its local offerings, and if all that studio hopping has worked up an appetite, grab a bite to eat at the market or take a quick drive over to our favourite chip truck, Rooster Fries! Two great choices for a tasty break into your day.
It's also exactly why we love this route. A day exploring the Uxbridge Studio Tour doesn't have to be only about art. It's an excuse to get out into the countryside, discover local businesses, eat something delicious and experience a part of Durham Region you may not have explored before.
Refuelled? There's plenty more art ahead.
From Tindall's, continue around the loop to Studio 19, home to the work of Lynn Bishop and Tom Loach and showcasing the work of guest artists painter Daniel Colby and jewelry creator Monique van Wel.
Lynn and Tom's work brings a distinctive, sophisticated perspective to the studio, while Daniel Colby and Monique van Wel each offer a different artistic voice and approach. Take time to explore the range of work on display and discover how an artist's eye can turn a home into an incredible gallery showcasing craftsmanship, originality, and heart.
Part of the fun is turning down a country road and wondering what you'll find when you arrive. Enjoy exploring this incredible landscape, then get ready to hit those country roads again.
Next, you are heading into farmland as you travel to the pottery studio of Cynthia Cupples. Take time to explore Cynthia Cupples’ pottery, with its tactile forms and thoughtful craftsmanship. Maybe purchase a coffee mug so you can think about the great times you had during Studio Tour weekend as you kickstart your day.
One of the great pleasures of spending a full day on the Studio Tour is seeing just how much creative diversity exists in this corner of Ontario. Different artists, different media, different surroundings, and often completely different ways of seeing the world. You never know which studio will turn into the place where you want to linger a little longer than expected.
Your final studio on our suggested loop is Studio 2 featuring the work of mixed media artist Rashmi Baird and guest artist painter LeeAnna Deringer.
Follow the long and winding drive up to Rashmi's studio and explore her distinctive works alongside LeeAnna’s colourful landscapes. Enjoy the opportunity to meet the artists and discover the stories, ideas and techniques behind their pieces. It’s a fitting last art stop before pointing the car back toward Uxbridge, and perhaps the place where you find the artwork that ends up coming home with you.
But the day isn't quite over yet; it's time to head into town to finish your day trip with one last stop and some great food!
STUDIO 7 | FIRST EDITIONS* (Our emerging artists showcase)
Back in downtown Uxbridge, there’s time to squeeze in one more art stop before dinner, and this one is a little hidden gem.
Head inside Blue Heron Books, Uxbridge’s award-winning independent bookstore, and make your way to the back where you’ll discover Studio 7 - First Editions* tucked away inside. After a day spent travelling country roads and stepping into working studios, First Editions offers a completely different setting for your final stop. Browse the artwork, meet the artists and, while you're there, leave a little extra time to explore the shelves at Blue Heron Books.
OK, you're exhausted and need something to eat NOW!
FINISH YOUR NORTH DURHAM DAY TRIP IN UXBRIDGE WITH GREAT FOOD
After a day of country roads, artist studios and exploring North Durham, head back into Uxbridge and let someone else do the creating. This time, on a plate.
For a sophisticated sit-down meal, two of our wonderful independent restaurants make especially good finales to your Studio Tour day.
Urban Pantry offers a farm-to-table dining experience in the heart of Uxbridge, with a strong emphasis on seasonal ingredients and local producers. Or make a reservation at 9 by Tin, an intimate fine-dining destination where Italian-style meals and outstanding cocktails help make the evening an experience in itself.
TOO EARLY FOR DINNER?
Pull up a chair on the patio and enjoy a bite to eat at the Fig Kitchen (just around the corner from Studio 7), or grab a handy charcuterie board to go from The Passionate Cook's Essentials (just a couple of doors down from Blue Heron Books).
Whatever you're in the mood for, our independent eateries are a very good reason to stop, recharge, relax and chat about everything you've seen! Art, countryside, local food and dinner in Uxbridge - that sounds like a pretty great September day to us.
Looking For Things to Do Near Port Perry?
This route is particularly convenient if you're visiting from Port Perry or elsewhere in North Durham.
Rather than driving into Uxbridge simply to begin at our first suggested stop, join the loop wherever it makes the most sense for you. Visit the studios in sequence from there, and eventually you'll make your way around to the point where you started.
You can then head into Uxbridge for dinner, or carry on toward home. It's an easy way to turn Studio Tour weekend into a North Durham day trip designed around your schedule.
Coming from York Region or Toronto?
This North Durham Studio Tour route is also a wonderful excuse to leave the highways behind and spend a September day exploring the countryside.
Visitors coming from Toronto, Stouffville, Markham, Aurora, Newmarket and elsewhere in York Region can choose whichever point on the loop creates the most convenient route from home.
Once you're here, slow down. Take the country roads. Stop at the studios. Talk to the artists. Have lunch. Buy something local. Discover somewhere you didn't know existed.
Because the Uxbridge Studio Tour isn't just somewhere to see art. It's a great reason to spend the day exploring places you've never been before.
Plan Your North Durham Art Adventure
The Uxbridge Studio Tour takes place September 19 & 20, 2026, with studios open Saturday from 10 am–6 pm and Sunday from 10 am–5 pm.
Admission is free.
Start anywhere. Follow the loop. See where the day takes you. We look forward to meeting you!
