Ray Ellis Art

Ray Ellis’s (Born 1921) paintings have been the subject of 17 books with themes which have varied widely from Martha’s Vineyard to the southern lowcountry; from moonlight and flowers to gardens, fishing and golf. His most recent book titled “Painting a Life” is a biography that examines his career and life. Ellis died in 2013 after painting for over 70 years and on all 7 continents. He was widely known for the originality of his paintings and was sought out for in many private collections and museums in the U.S. and abroad. He spent his life painting things and places he loved. His paintings hang in American Embassies in Brussells, Vienna, Geneva, and London. In 1999, he was commissioned to do a series of paintings of the Rose Garden by the White House. In 2004, a major retrospective of his work was exhibited by the Telfair Museum of Savannah, GA. Ellis served for 4 years in the Coast Guard during the Second World War after which he founded his own advertising agency in New York and New Jersey. As he was working, he continued to paint in his spare time. And it was during this period that his works were widely exhibited and received numerous honors, and he was elected to the American Watercolor Society. In 1969 he decided to devote all his time to painting. Five years later, he moved south to Hilton Head Island, and then to Savannah. Ellis decided to settle in the north in 1989 where he maintained a studio and home on Martha's Vineyard. This is where he worked until his death. Even after his death, framed Ray Ellis art are still in great demand.