Hey there, I’m Dylan Christopher McFadden, just a guy in his mid-twenties on a journey through the world of art, particularly glass art.

Art and creativity have always been in my blood, thanks in large part to my family. My grandfather, Chris Pither, created beautiful fused glass art. Although he passed away before he could teach me about his craft, he and the rest of my family instilled in me an irresistible desire to create.

Throughout my childhood, I was constantly exploring and experimenting with different art forms, spending countless hours honing my skills. Not in any one medium but in an ability to adapt and learn through any medium. However through high-school I’d end up focusing on woodworking spending many hours learning from my father. Ultimately participating in the City of Barrie’s Summer Company program and selling my woodwork at craft shows. Unbeknownst to myself at the time, this would be the first taste of my future career. 

My path to becoming a glass artist wasn’t exactly conventional. After high-school, art was put on hold as I attended Western University for Medical Sciences. Although it didn’t take too long before I began to feel lost, realizing that my true happiness lay in the world of creating art and working for myself. 

It was a twist of fate that led me to discover glass art. While taking time off from university in 2021 to contemplate my career path, I suffered a motorcycle accident that left me with two fractured vertebrae. This caused a slow and uncomfortable recovery along with chronic pain. I found solace from this pain in the medicinal properties of cannabis and as I delved deeper into this world, I discovered a niche but large community creating high-end beautifully crafted cannabis accessories. This opened my eyes to a new craft that I strongly felt had ample support and room for growth required to sustain a career, better yet, a lifetime worth of creative thinking.

About two years later, I was lucky enough to be selected to receive a Starter Company Plus grant from the City of St. Catharines. This grant came alongside extensive training and education which has been invaluable to both my personal and business growth. Now as I continue to grow as an artist, I’ve realized that I don’t want to limit myself or my creations to the cannabis world. I want my art to be accessible to everyone, regardless of their interests or backgrounds. So, I’m embarking on a new chapter, exploring new forms and projects that anyone can enjoy.

Join me on this journey as I continue to push the boundaries of glass art and discover where my creativity takes me next.