This website is dedicated to the memory of its main champion, co-creator and dear friend, cousin and daily mentor
for nearly a decade, Chris Thackray, who went on his next "fun adventure" on 31 July, 2026.
Welcome to our new website
I hope you enjoy this brighter site with larger, clearer images of my and other artisans' works. Though it looks very similar to my old site, there are differences and we are still making adjustments to layouts. Please excuse our dust! Websites are always a work in progress, this one a little more so right now. I hope you find this new site to be easy to navigate, enjoy and find inspiration.~ Ellen
Note to International clients:
My website cannot accurately calculate international shipping with the present continuously changing customs. Please email or call for an exact quote. It is our understanding that most artwork is exempt from customs, but it is different for different countries, so we must check before giving you a quote. I, along with many others, hope for a better time.
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 working from her longtime home and studio in southeastern Delaware about a mile in from the Atlantic Ocean.
She has been painting since a small child, winning her first major award statewide in grade school, selling her first oil painting to a fellow art student as a teen, beginning what was to become a strong following nationally, then globally in coming years.
Today, Ellen is considered one of the mid-Atlantic's most collected fine artists. Her landscapes, portraits and inspirational works have earned her the title Best Artist many times (see below). Her paintings and fine art reproductions can be found gracing private homes, offices, government and corporate collections throughout the United States and in 18 countries on four continents.
"Breathtaking" and "so beautiful" are ways people describe her landscapes and seascapes, but it is her inspirational Strength of Woman Series that sets her work apart.
"Winding Peace." oil on canvas (sold) of the marshy back bay area of coastal Delaware.
"Light is at the center of all of my paintings. A friend once told me to always be aware of what I was thinking while painting, that people viewing the work will feel it. Each brush stroke carries the thoughts and feelings behind it. It's so much more than technique. It's what brings smiles to people's faces and speaks to the heart.
"Whether painting a glowing ocean sunrise, the light in a child's eyes, a vision seen in prayer, or a tiny songbird on a flowering tree branch, I endeavor to always approach my easel with a clear state of mind, peace, and when finished, release my paintings with the hope that all viewing them will not only enjoy their beauty, but feel their peace and be uplifted."
To explore Ellen Rice's work in person, please click here. To learn more about Ellen click here:
Celebration Series of 25 rare small paintings passes the halfway mark
"Swirling Sea", a 6" x 12" Celebration Series oil on canvas of sea spray flying over and around the south jetty tower at Indian River Inlet (sold). Prints available.
Ellen's Celebration Series of 25 small original paintings is past the half way point, with less than 10 in this limited series remaining to be painted in this strictly limited collection.
These paintings are inspired by memories and the many thousands of reference photos Ellen has taken during her life on Delaware's coast, along with a few other subjects from beyond this area.
She rarely paints this small, so they sell quickly. The majority of her Celebration Series paintings have sold either in progress or immediately after release to her eNews subscribers.
You can keep up with them on the Celebration page or to have the earliest opportunity to purchase her new series pieces as they come off her easel, sign up for alerts about them at the bottom of this page. Be sure to select your subject(s) of interest. What you sign up for is all you'll receive news about, and we never share subscribers' information, ever.
Centrally located on the Delmarva Coast, Enjoy Art and Nature & Wildlife
"Seclusion," oil on canvas of Pasture Point Cove on the western side of the James Farm Ecological Preserve. The preserve and its wild inhabitants have found their way into Ellen's oil paintings. From her studio bordering the preserve's southeastern side, she frequently observes deer, egrets, heron and even bald eagles.
The Ellen Rice Studio & Gallery is located next to the southeastern side of the James Farm Ecological Preserve on the outskirts of Ocean View, Delaware, two miles on two quiet roads from Coastal Highway, the Delmarva (Delaware-Maryland-Virginia) coast's main thoroughfare. We are:
Bethany Beach - 4.4 miles and 10-15 minutes
Rehoboth Beach - 14.6 miles and about 25 to 25 minutes; Lewes - 20 miles and 30-40 minutes from Lewes;
Fenwick Island - 9.5 miles and 15-20 minutes from Fenwick Island,; Ocean City, Maryland -18.3 miles and 30-35 minutes
Assateague and Chincoteague Islands and their ponies - 29.2 miles and 45-55 minutes. Note to all who visit the islands of "Misty" fame, please "Drive 15 for Susi". Susi is one of three island horses struck by cars this summer, two of whom died, leaving a foal and other herd family members behind. And please, don't feed the ponies. Human food is harmful to them.
Making Ellen's work part of your home, office or corporate setting
COLLECTING & COMMISSIONING: For more serious art lovers in search of original paintings for their homes or cinvestment ollections, the studio showcases current available paintings and in-progress works. Her originals sell quickly, purchased while still in progress. The best way to know when a new painting is becoming available is to either check in regularly or sign up for email alerts about new originals at the bottom of this page, noting your area of interest. Custom paintings for private individuals, businesses, corporate entities, and non-profits may also be commissioned on a limited basis. Call Ellen for an appointment to discuss your commission idea.
AFFORDABLE "LOCAL" ART & SPECIAL GIFTS: A growing collection of nearly 200 gicle'e reproductions of Ellen's original paintings, and gifts featuring some of her most popular paintings, are available at the studio and on this website. Ellen's Small Gifts include handmade porcelain ornaments, journals, coffee mugs, keepsake boxes, mousepads, bookmarks and clocks, All are available online, in her studio, and by phone. Her fine art prints at $45.
CUSTOM REPRODUCTIONS: Hand-embellished, custom size reproductions on canvas are a step between an original painting and a giclée reproduction on fine art paper. They look like and are treated the same as original oils on canvas. When framing, no glass or matting are required. Ellen individually hand-embellishes each of these archival works. As with all of her limited editions, each comes with the painting's story and certificate of authenticity.
PAYMENT METHODS: The studio accepts all major credit cards (in person, online, and by phone), as well as Apple Pay and checks. We also offer layaway for larger purchases. Commissions are paid in stages. See our policies here.
Autumn's subtle beauty and peacefulness
Stay tuned for what this fall brings. Portraits and peaceful scenes of uncrowded beaches are among Ellen's favorite subjects to paint, walking along the quiet majesty of the coast after the summer crowds have gone.
"The Best of Friends", oil on canvas, a portrait captured from a mother's treasured photograph of her now-grown children.
At right, in "Evening Stroll", two sets of footprints combine into one along the Delaware coast in the quiet beauty of autumn.
đź“ž To inquire about bringing a special memory, portrait or favorite scene of yours to life, email or call (302) 539-3405.
Ellen's email subscribers are the first to know
To be among the first to receive notices about your personally 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 less, sometimes a little more depending on 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, and that is all the news you'll receive.
A Few of Ellen's and her Gallery's Awards
“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 international 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
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 most of Ellen Rice's available art directly here at www.ellenrice.gallery and in the gallery portion of her studio.