My name is Rebecca Wilson and I’m a full-time artist who works in watercolour and textile art.
I describe my art as “folk art” because of the style and subjects, as well as my self-taught techniques. My work is illustrative and graphic, while also nostalgic and east coast-inspired. I enjoy balancing the fluidity of watercolour with tight detail work, a combination that has become central to my visual language. I draw inspiration from vintage picture books and children’s illustration, as well as from everyday life and local traditions.
Themes of memory, community, and the presence of the maker run through my work. I often imply human presence through texture, visible brushwork, and subject matter. This can appear as a folk art design around a door frame, smoke rising from a chimney, or overgrown plants encroaching on a doorframe. I am particularly drawn to houses, cottages, and the surrounding terrain, using small narrative details to suggest the lives and histories embedded in these spaces.
I also love painting cute animals, especially rabbits! My studio bunny, Blueberry, serves as my model and constant inspiration.
I also document my work on my artist YouTube channel and you can buy my work on my studio shop and at select retailers.
My exhibits, media, and publications are listed below:
> Television Interview: “‘A well-loved show’: Miniature masterpieces on display at annual Halifax art show“, CTV News, January 19 2026
> Podcast Interview: The Blackout Podcast with Israel Ikanem, Episode 319 (May 12, 2025)
> Podcast Interview: Creative Conflab with Tara Joy Andrews, Episode 9
> Newspaper Interview: “From healing hobby to sea salt sensation”, The Halifax Wire, December 9 2020
> Conference Speaker: “Hard Times on Sable Island: The Darby Controversy”, Shifting Sands Sable Island Conference, November 9 2019
> Conference Speaker: “Research Tools and Strategies for Fact-Based Blogging”, BlogJam Atlantic, October 19th 2019
> Conference Speaker: “Using TWINE Software to Reimagine Archaeological Spaces”, Annual Meeting of the Atlantic Classical Association, St. Mary’s University, October 15th 2018
> Conference Speaker: “Dystopian Mythology: classical reception in George Miller’s Mad Max franchise”, Classical Association of Canada Annual Conference, May 11th 2017
> Conference speaker: “Playful lenses: Open social scholarship through game-based inquiry, research and scholarly communication”, INKE (Implementing New Knowledge Environments) Understanding and Enacting Open Scholarship Gathering, January 17-18th 2017
> Conference speaker: “Playful lenses: Game-based inquiry, research and scholarly communication”, WISE (Women in Science and Engineering) Acadia Diversity in Computer Science Event, October 18th 2016
> Co-authored: “‘English like a Dead Language’: Visualizing John Milton’s Literary Style”, with Richard Cunningham and Harvey Quamen. Canadian Society for Digital Humanities / Société canadienne des humanitiés numériques, Calgary, May 2016
> Conference speaker: “Zeus and Xenia in Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein“, 14th Annual Concordia University English Graduate Colloquium (Monstrous Impositions), March 6th 2016
> Sleep Perchance (2022) poetry as Riva Wilson
> Joseph Darby: A Man of Sable Island (2021), historical biography
> Playful Lenses: Using Twine to Facilitate Open Social Scholarship through Game-based Inquiry, Research, and Scholarly Communication (2019), academic paper in KULA Journal
> The Vintage Vegetarian: The 1800s (2018), historical cookbook
> “Oh, praise the eternal justice of man!”: Classical Greek ideas of Justice, Philia, and Xenia in Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein (2016), masters’ thesis
> The Night Wheel (2015) novella
2026:
[Group Exhibition] Acadia University’s 32nd Annual Art Show, January-March 2026 (Wolfville, NS)
[Group Exhibition] Preshrunk, Argyle Fine Art, January-February 2026 (Halifax, NS)
2025:
[Group Exhibition] Regeneratio, Chester Art Centre, April 2025 (Chester, NS)
[Group Exhibition] Acadia University’s 31st Annual Art Show, February-April 2025 (Wolfville, NS)
[Group Exhibition] Cat Pop-Up Show, Argyle Fine Art, May 2025 (Halifax, NS)
[Solo Feature] Togetherland Art Gallery, August-September 2025 (Ingramport, NS)
If you want to connect with me, you can find me on Instagram @luckysprout.studio or send me an email. Thanks!
upcoming projects
January, 2026: I’m currently working on a series that explores the way that human footpaths create narrative upon a landscape. I’m working in watercolour at various scales to create interesting visual map/landscape hybrids that are imbued with subtle stories of human behaviours, connections, and community. Stay tuned for more about this project and exhibition information!
learn with me!
In a past career I was a university lecturer. Now, I teach lots of online courses on fun creative subjects! I have a library of 35+ courses on things like graphic design, entrepreneurship, writing, art, and creativity.
You can take my classes on Skillshare (get a free month using my link!)
You can also get access to my classes plus other little freebies if you are a member of my YouTube Membership!
I also teach in-person workshops around Halifax. Check out my Instagram for upcoming events.
I love connecting with my students and look forward to teaching you soon 🙂
2026 upcoming events
PEI Atlantic Makers Market
April 17-18 2026
Eastlink Centre, Charlottetown PEI
Acadia University Community Show
See my work here from January-March 2026
Preshrunk 2026 presented by Argyle Fine Art
See my work here from January 23-February 25 2026
Stay tuned for spring show announcements!
client projects
Check out two of my fave client design projects here – merch/branding for Small Batch Bakery, and packaging for South Shore Sea Salt!
I take on a limited number of client projects per year. If you’d like to work together, please reach out via email.
