Birds Canada is happy to introduce our first Artist-in-Residence, Artist Cindy Presant, a stone sculptor and painter living in Port Rowan, Ontario. Cindy’s residency will cover the year of 2025. “I am delighted to be the first Artist-in-Residence for Birds Canada,” said Cindy, from her home-based Long Point Art Studio. “The birdlife here is truly astonishing, and has always been a subject for my drawings, paintings, and stone carvings,” said Cindy. “I’m looking forward to creating bird-related artwork during my residency, and learning from Birds Canada staff about the importance of birds in our daily lives.” Cindy will be developing a body of work for a solo show scheduled in January, 2026.

Cindy’s art residency includes a community arts and nature component.  She has developed the Nature Puzzles and Art Cafe (NatPac), which meets at Birds Canada Headquarters from January-March. NatPac includes volunteer-led art sessions, and bird jigsaw puzzles.  People from the local community can register to attend for a nominal fee.

Cindy’s media are pencil, pen and ink, acrylics, watercolour, soapstone, limestone, and alabaster.  Her popular stone carvings feature wildlife of Norfolk County, and include birds, herptiles, and mammals.  Cindy’s paintings and drawings are her own self-taught style of impressionistic realism.  She prefers to draw and paint “en plein air” (outside in nature), to capture as much life from her subjects as possible.  Cindy has been exhibiting and selling her artwork for over 30 years in Haldimand and Norfolk counties. A keen naturalist and amateur birder, she finds subject matter everywhere.  “Nature is at my doorstep in Port Rowan,” said Cindy.  “This area of Norfolk County has so much to see that I never run out of ideas for artwork.”  Cindy looks forward to meeting and talking with people she meets while drawing and painting at Birds Canada properties around Port Rowan and Long Point.”