Welcome to the Artisan Way, your introduction to the Northumberland Shore of Nova Scotia and the people that paint, weave, fashion and craft more colour into daily life here.

The Northumberland Shore, is a meandering coastal drive that winds some 200 km with endless beaches out one window and idyllic countryside out the other. The region is well known for its warm gentle waters, fun-loving character and an abundance of big festivals and music-filled gatherings. No doubt it is this special combination of people and landscape that makes this a place that is also rich in finely skilled artists, artisans and craftspeople.

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Create a customized itinerary here

Use the search fields below to view all artisans and build a custom itinerary. The search will provide you with a description for each listing and a map containing all listings that match your search query. You can:

  • Search by category, by region or view all
  • Find out who is "Open Off-Season" (January to April)
  • Build your itinerary by selecting "Add to itinerary" on artisan listings
  • Review your itinerary and download, print or email

Featured Videos

Traveling the Artisan Way
Traveling the Artisan Way
1:43
Handmade in Nova Scotia
Handmade in Nova Scotia
3:12
Rural Artisans of the Northumberland Shore
Rural Artisans of the Northumberland Shore
3:38

Things to know

The Artisan Way follows Nova Scotia's Northumberland Shore. The route stretches from Amherst in the west to Antigonish and Auld's Cove in the east. All artisans in our directory are within 10km of the coastal route.

A message from our artisans

We look forward to meeting. Our studios, shops and markets are open and even though it's where we work we enjoy the company. It's all part of the mosaic that inspires the Artisan Way. There may even be the chance for you to try your hand at fitting stained glass, carving wood to craft a face or hooking a rug. For some artisans, where we work is also where we live and, on occasion, life can alter our schedules. If you are planning a visit on a specific date, we recommend calling ahead to confirm hours.

What does "by appointment" mean?

Some artisans list their hours as "by appointment". This is really just a formal sounding way of asking you to call ahead to ensure they'll be there when you visit. Often they'd be there anyway. It's not like a dentist appointment; so don't fret if your schedule changes.

This project was imagined and created by folks who live on the Northumberland Shore