Cushendun was a location much favoured by artists during the Victorian period, Agnes Shakespeare Higginson (1864-1955) lived at Rockport and wrote under the pseudonym of Moira O'Neill.  She wrote ballads, poetry and novels which were inspired by the area. Her published work include 'Songs of the Glens of Antrim' (1900) and 'More Songs of the Glens of Antrim' (1921). After marrying Walter Skrine  in 1895, the couple moved to Canada. Her daughter Mary Nesta Skrine (1904-1996) also wrote under the pseudonyms of  M.J. Farrell and  Molly Keane.

Another connection to the village is John Masefield (1878 -1967), Poet Laureate for the United Kingdom (1930-37). He met and married Constance De la Cherois-Crommelin in 1903, she was the youngest daughter of Nicolas De la Cherois-Crommelin from Cushendun. This connection would see John Masefield spending many holidays in Cushendun and like many of those associated with Cushendun he would have attended the services in the beautiful small Parish Church built in 1840. Secluded and surrounded by trees, the church came about through perceived requirements of influential local families for a chapel of ease at Cushendun.

Michael Harrison, an attorney who leased and lived at Glenmona House was assigned the unenviable task of moving 16 townlands from Culfeightrim parish and several from the Layde parish to form the perpetual Cure of Cushendun complete with its church. The church served the community for over 160 years and eventually closed and was deconsecrated in 2003. Ronald John O'Neill, Lord Cushendun is buried along with his wife in the graveyard.

Other artists that have associations with Cushendun include Humbert Craig (painter), Maurice Canning Wilks (painter), Theo Gracy (painter), Louis Macneice (Poet & Playright), May Crommelin (Novelist & Travel Writer), Charles McAuley (painter) a local man who spent his creative days painting and capturing scenes of the landscapes he loved.  John Hewitt (poet) who is fondly known as the 'Poet of the Glens', his association is marked by a cairn in the townland of  Lubitavish.