Ashdale Gallery was founded to bring exceptional access to contemporary Canadian art to the North Shore.

A place where collectors and art lovers often had to travel far to experience the work that matters most. The gallery’s name reflects its roots: a tribute to family, combining Ashton, the name of Jessica and Chris’s son, with Lonsdale, the North Shore community that inspires it.

At Ashdale, art isn’t just a transaction - it’s an experience. The gallery is guided by a philosophy of integrity, curiosity, and hospitality, where success is measured not by the price of a sale but by the depth of connection between the work, the artist, and the collector.

Founded and run as a family partnership, Ashdale fosters a space where collectors feel welcomed, artists are championed, and every visit becomes an opportunity for discovery. Here, collecting is personal, intentional, and infused with the wonder that great art can bring into our daily lives.

Elevating Canadian Art: A Vision for North Vancouver

Founded on a deep-rooted love for North Vancouver, Ashdale Gallery is the culmination of a lifelong journey. It started in 2001, when Jess first set foot in this captivating city as a young adult, drawn to its natural beauty and the echoes of her mountain town origins.

For Jess' family, being outdoors is paramount. Nestled in the embrace of the North Shore, with its majestic mountains and serene oceans, we are constantly reminded of the beauty that surrounds us. This connection to nature is the backdrop to our journey in the world of art, where inspiration flows as naturally as the tides.

We are passionate about bringing the diverse and rich tapestry of Canadian artists to the forefront, ensuring North Vancouver is enriched with their creations. Our mission is to illuminate the brilliance of artists from coast to coast, fostering a connection between creators and the community they call home.

  • Empowering Artists: Our Commitment to Creativity

    We recognize that artists are the heartbeat of Ashdale Gallery. We are dedicated to nurturing their growth and amplifying their artistic voices. As advocates for our artists, we take our role seriously, ensuring their work reaches collectors who resonate with their vision. We celebrate the interwoven relationships between artists and their admirers, believing that supporting the artist is an investment in both creativity and community.

  • Creating Hospitality through Art: A Unique Buying Experience

    Hailing from a hospitality background, Jess infuses the art-buying experience with the essence of memorable encounters. We believe that acquiring art is not just about the piece itself, but the story it weaves into your life. Like a cherished dining experience, we craft moments that linger, enhancing the meaning behind your chosen pieces of artwork. Each art purchase becomes a chapter in your personal narrative.

About Your Gallerist

Jessica Arbour believes art galleries should feel more like being welcomed into someone’s home than stepping into a place where you feel unsure if you belong.

As the founder of Ashdale Gallery in North Vancouver, she has built a space where curiosity is encouraged, conversations are easy, and collecting art feels less like an insider’s game and more like a natural extension of living with beauty, story, and meaning.

Jessica’s relationship with creativity began through theatre and performance, where she developed an early fascination with storytelling and the emotional language of visual experience. Her career then took an unexpected turn into the world of international travel, spending nearly a decade working aboard private yachts. Visiting cities and cultures around the world gave her an informal but powerful education in art and design—wandering galleries in unfamiliar places, discovering artists in small studios, and observing how different cultures live with art.

Jessica believes that collecting art is rarely about prestige or trends—it was about recognition. That quiet moment when someone encounters a work and feels that it somehow belongs in their life.

That belief eventually became Ashdale Gallery.

Today Jessica leads the gallery with a philosophy rooted in hospitality. She sees her role not just as a gallerist, but as a guide—helping artists share their work and collectors discover pieces that become part of their everyday lives. Whether working with first-time buyers or seasoned collectors, her focus remains the same: creating an environment where people feel welcome, supported, and excited to explore.

For Jessica, art collecting is not about transactions. It’s about relationships, curiosity, and the stories that unfold when a piece of art finds its way into the right home.