like 'Ooo, nice' 

the story of the ou

Like any artist with many ideas and interests, our story is a bit of meandering one! Our flagship residency and contemporary art gallery ran for five years from our home in the Cowichan Valley before we took a pause for Donovan to turn his footwear dreams into reality with Pelago (learn more here) and we fell in love with Gabriola Island, hosting artists in a little cabin there for two years. 2025 has been a bit of a homecoming and The Ou has had a beautiful makeover to include bright new studio windows and access to an updated living-room that honours the structures and original use of ‘Ash Boatworks.’

We are so thankful for the folks that have trusted us with their art, creative rest and process, and can’t wait to show you the updated space, and welcome you home!

We are uninvited guests on the lands where live and create, and we humbly acknowledge that these lands are part of the traditional Coast Salish territory of the Quw’utsun and the Hul’qumin’num Treaty Group and the unceded (stolen) territory of the Snuneymuxw nation. Learn more about the land you live on here.

 
 

who ‘is’ the ou?

 

Barclay + Donovan created The Ou with help from their wonderful friends and family to satisfy their dreams to inhabit and share beautiful and gentle creative spaces, to be surrounded by contemporary art, and to bring artists from around the world to a place where they can feel at home, relaxed and inspired.

Barclay started learning about art from her mom on the kitchen floor with oil pastels. From there she tried out a year at the Nova Scotia College of Art & Design, and ended up with an MA in Media and International Development. Her passion for travel, art and community engagement has taken her around the world as a student, artist and volunteer. Find her sporadically on Insta at bmmr.ose

Donovan is an oil painter and bird lover, whose lust for life sprouted as an adventurous child spending summers at the Shuswap. His work and life is inspired by an ever evolving palette of Leonard Cohen and Henri Matisse. He is currently represented by Gallery Merrick in Victoria, Ashdale Gallery in North Vancouver and Gibson Fine Art in Calgary.

Find his artwork at donovanrose.ca and check out his footwear company at pelagofootwear.com