2025 Nova Scotia Retreat Instructors

Ann is known for her large-scale panoramic landscapes, florals and rural scenes of Canada. Bold, visible brushstrokes and thick, luscious oil paint are characteristic of her paintings, which have been described as contemporary impressionism. Gnarly old trees with their own linear personalities, grasses shifting in the wind, hidden marshes, – these are some of the subject matters which have inspired Ann’s landscapes.

Her florals portray the exquisite rhythm and flow which are at the root of nature surrounding us. They are larger-than-life, close up and personal , inviting the viewer to immerse themselves in the painting. They are an open invitation into the heart and soul of the natural world, a reminder of the peace and tranquility that exists if we but look for it. 

For the past few years Ann has found new passion in painting outdoors, en plein air. This method of painting stems back to the mid 19th century. She has been involved in major Plein air events in B.C., Alberta, Nova Scotia and Ontario. She has won major awards for her plein air work, including first place at the Elora Plein Air Festival, 2018 in Ontario, third place in the 2017 Bragg Creek, Alberta Plein Air Festival and an Honourable Mention at the Parrsboro, Nova Scotia International Plein Air Festival 2018 . She continues to promote Plein Air painting events and workshops throughout Canada. 

Her work is shown in galleries across Canada and held in collections around the world. She is a Senior member of the Federation of Canadian Artists and an Associate Member of the Oil Painters of America.

James Middleton is a Canadian portrait painter, landscape artist and workshop instructor living in Nova Scotia, Canada. James’ landscapes and portrait life sketches bring a balance to his commissioned portraits. It was the great portrait artist John Singer Sargent who said that a portrait artist should go outside and paint landscapes, to avoid becoming a mannerist. 

Prior to his painting career, James founded the design firm Middleton Design Associates Inc. in Toronto, Ontario. He and his team were responsible for various corporate identity/branding and marketing/corporate communications programs for many of Canada’s leading corporations and the Government of Ontario.

A turning point in James’ painting career was in 2006 when he attended a week-long plein air workshop with master painter Albert Handell in Putney, Vermont, where he met and painted with the legendary painter Richard Schmid, his wife Nancy Guzik and their group the Putney Painters. It was such an inspiring and educational experience, he returned to Putney the following year for a second workshop with Handell and the opportunity to further learn from Richard Schmid. Other influences have been Sorolla, Zorn, Sargent and Fechin.

James Middleton is a member of The Portrait Society of Canada, The Portrait Society of America, The Society of Canadian Artists, Oil Painters of America, Ontario Plein Air Society, Plein Air Painters of the Bay of Fundy and is a founding member of the Sunrise Painters Portrait Group.

James’ work has been recognized by many organizations and publications, including the Portrait Society of Canada’s 2024, 2023, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014 Portrait Competition “The Miracle of the Portrait” – Competition Top Finalist/Certificate of Merit; Portrait Society of Canada’s “International Portrait Arts Festival Competition” – Competition Top Finalist/Certificate of Merit; 14th Annual PleinAir Salon July Art Competition – Best Artist in Category with painting “Speaker of the House with His Painting”; Art Gallery of Peel’s Annual Juried Show – Best Painting; ArtWorks Oakville’s Annual Juried Show – 2nd Place; Society of Canadian Artists’ National Juried Show – 2nd Place Award of Merit; Richeson 75 Figure/Portrait Juried Show; Ontario Society of Artists National Juried Exhibition – 80 finalists nationwide; Bold Brush Painting Competitions; Studio Magazine; Applied Arts Magazine; Ontario Forum Awards; Financial Post Magazine; Visual Arts Mississauga; Canadian Brushstroke Magazine – Contemporary Portraits; Chronicle Herald; Halifax Citizen; South Shore Breaker; Bedford-Sackville Observer.