This website is dedicated to the memory of its main champion, co-creator and my dearest friend, cousin and daily mentor
for nearly a decade, Chris Thackray, who went on his next "fun adventure" on 31 July, 2026.
Note to those who haven't visited in awhile . . . please click here for our location.
About the artist
Ellen Rice is an acclaimed professional artist known widely for capturing the Mid-Atlantic coast in its many moods and globally for her inspirational "Strength of Woman" series.
Working from her longtime home and studio in southeastern Delaware, her landscapes, seascapes, portraits, wildlife, historic and fundraising art have earned her the title "Best Artist" for the Delmarva coastal region numerous times, alongside regional and nationall cultural, corporate and civic awards.
Working primarily in oils, Ellen captures scenes designed to transport viewers into her paintings in a way that makes them feel that they they are there. Most of her pieces have rich stories that she shares in writing.
However, it is her "Strength of Woman" series ~ inspired by visions seen in prayer in answer to life events and focused on uplifting others ~ that sets her work apart.
"Winding Peace" ~ A radiant sunset over the coastal Delaware back bay near the artist's home, featuring a Great Blue Heron in the marshy shallows.
Speaking of her work, which defies shoehorning, she says, “I don’t look at what I do as being in competition with others. I appreciate so many forms of art and different artists’ works, but I am me. I can’t be anyone else. I can only truly be in competition with myself to be my best self.”
“In truth, that’s all any of us can do. We’re unique beings passing this way once, and the closer to true honesty we are with ourselves the more our work resonates with others and the world. Each painting is an exploration into that truth, brush stroke by brush stroke.
“I remember praying as a young girl that my life would be a blessing. A long time ago I asked that God use me, my work, in whatever way was needed. It’s my hope that whatever I do, in whatever corners of the world my work is found, it uplifts.”
Collecting & Commissioning Her Art
Original Paintings & Commissions
For the serious art lover, original works are available for investment—though please note that many sell before completion. To receive alerts about new pieces, you are invited to sign up for Ellen’s eNewsletter below. Custom paintings for private individuals, businesses, corporate entities, and non-profits may also be commissioned on a very limited basis.
Fine Art Reproductions
To bring Ellen's inspirations into your life at an accessible price point, she offers a growing collection of nearly 200 signed and numbered fine art giclée reproductions. These are available online, in her studio, or by phone, with entry-level open stock archival prints starting at $45.
Hand-Embellished Canvas Reproductions
As an intermediary step between an original painting and a paper print, you can select a large-scale, custom-sized giclée reproduction on canvas. Ellen individually hand-embellishes each of these pieces, ensuring that no two are exactly alike. Like all of her limited editions, these come with the painting's story and a certificate of authenticity.
Where to experience & purchase
The Studio: The Welcome Mat is Out All Year
You are invited to view Ellen's newest original paintings, works in progress, and fine art reproductions inside her custom-built studio and showroom. Located on her personal property, the studio directly overlooks the James Farm Ecological Preserve on the northern outskirts of Ocean View, Delaware.
While the studio's plain gray exterior is modest from the front, it opens into a peaceful interior featuring floor-to-ceiling, north-facing windows. This design provides the perfect natural light for painting and viewing art, allowing visitors to watch the changing seasons and wildlife in the preserve next door.
Location & Proximity
The studio is nestled in coastal Delaware, making it an easy trip from several surrounding beach communities:
- Bethany Beach: 2 miles northwest
- Rehoboth Beach & Lewes: ~30 to 40 minutes south depending on seasonal traffic
- Fenwick Island & Ocean City, MD: ~15 minutes north
- Assateague Island: ~45 minutes north (Visiting the wild ponies? Please remember to abide by the 15 mph speed limit to protect them!)
👉 Click here for Directions and Hours
Ways to Purchase: For your convenience, we accept all major credit cards (in person, online, and by phone), as well as Apple Pay and checks.
The Celebration Series: 25 Rare Small Paintings
"Break of Day," nearing completon in my studio as it takes on the artist's desired luminescence and depth, This 6" x 12" oil painting is Celebration Series #17/25.
The Celebration Series: 25 Rare Small Paintings
Ellen's Celebration Series is now past the halfway point, with fewer than 10 original paintings remaining to be created in this strictly limited collection. Most of these rare, small pieces are inspired by memories sparked by the thousands of reference photos Ellen has taken during her decades living near the Delaware coast, alongside select subjects from her travels beyond the region.
Because of their rare size and accessibility, the majority of the Celebration Series paintings to date have sold while still in progress or immediately upon release to email subscribers.
To explore the collection or secure a piece before the series concludes:
- 👉 View the Celebration Series Gallery Page
- 📬 Sign up for Ellen’s eNewsletter at the bottom of this page to receive first-access alerts before new pieces are released to the public.
Your privacy matters: When signing up, you can select your specific subjects of interest. You will only receive the updates you request—no junk, no spam, and your information is never shared with anyone, ever.
Second-Season Lighting Can Be Soft and Subtle, or Spectacular...
Portraits and peaceful scenes of uncrowded beaches are among Ellen's favorite subjects to paint, capturing the quiet majesty of the coast after the summer crowds have gone.
"The Best of Friends, Oil on Canvas, a portrail captured from a mother's treasured photograph of her now-grown children. At right, "Evening Stroll," Oil on Canvas. Two sets of footprints combine into one, telling a story of connection along the Delaware coast in the quiet beauty of autumn.
Commission a Custom Piece
If you would like to bring a special memory, portrait, or favorite coastal view to life, Ellen accepts a very limited number of custom commissions each year.
đź“ž To inquire about a custom painting commission, please call the studio directly at (302) 539-3405.
Ellen's monthly eNewsletter subscribers are the first to know....
To be among the first to receive notices of your selected areas of interest - from new original paintings and prints to special events and special offers - subscribe free to Ellen's eNewsletters at the bottom of this page.
We normally send out about one eNewsletter per month, sometimes more if we've got news we think you'd be interested in. We respect your privacy and do not share or sell your information to anyone ever. Be sure to note your specific areas of interest when you sign up.
A few of the awards received by Ellen and her Gallery
“Best Artist, Sussex County, Delaware” (2025, 2024, 2016, 2015, 2014) by Coastal Style
Magazine • "One of Delaware's Best Beach Artists" by Delaware Today Magazine • “One of Delaware’s Top Ten Most Collectible Artists” by Delaware Beach Life Magazine • "One of the Top 10 Must-See Galleries and Museums in Delaware” by The Culture Trip • White House Easter Egg Artist representing the State of Delaware • "QVC's Quest for America's Best" representing the State of Delaware • "PNC Financial Artist of the Year” Commission Award • "Beebe Healthcare Commission Award" for the South Coastal Cancer Treatment Center Lobby • "Great American Paint-In Artist" representing Delaware • "NICHE National Top Retailer Award Finalist" by The Rosen Group.
Most collected paintings and prints this month
"When you express yourself genuinely, from your heart, and do the work necessary to develop your abilities, your art resonates." ~ Ellen Rice
Take a Virtual Tour of the Studio
Enjoy a brief, behind-the-scenes look at Ellen's creative process, her newest collections, and the peaceful, light-filled atmosphere of her coastal Delaware studio.
Note: This video features a previous web address at the end, but you are currently in the right place! You can explore all of her available art directly here at www.ellenrice.gallery.