Cowley Abbott

Cowley Abbott bridges the gap between traditional art auction services and the online fine art marketplace. With dedicated preview and gallery space, regular art auctions, and partnerships with national art experts, we provide both buyers and sellers of Canadian Art a unique and effective set of services which marry the traditional methods of promoting artwork and innovative means of building a collection. Cowley Abbott was founded as Consignor Canadian Fine Art in August 2013 by Rob Cowley, Lydia Abbott and Ryan Mayberry as the country’s first online Canadian art auction house, in response to changes in the Canadian art market and art collecting practices. Opening a gallery space at 326 Dundas Street West, the firm aimed to bridge the gap between brick-and-mortar art galleries and the growing online marketplace. The firm set out to hold quarterly auctions, with historical and post-war artwork hung on the gallery walls and bidding taking place electronically. Consignor saw significant growth within its first year, as in May 2014 it broke the record for a Canadian online auction, with Jack Bush’s “Summer Lake” achieving a price of $310,000. A new chapter has begun in September 2019, with our firm being renamed Cowley Abbott. The branding adjustment provides a more “human” face to our auction company, identifying the two managing partners and owners, Rob and Lydia, both veterans of the Toronto auction industry. Our structure, management and services remain the same, with more exciting changes to come. Our experienced specialists strive to form relationships with clients built on professionalism, transparency and trust. The Cowley Abbott team is keen to facilitate the entire process of selling or purchasing an artwork, from on-site visits and individual consultations, to the fall of the gavel and the final delivery of a work of art. We believe that art collecting should be approachable, educational and rewarding for both new and seasoned collectors.