Rye Art Gallery - The Story

The Rye Art Gallery Trust was founded in 1957 by artist Mary Stormont (1871 - 1962), who eloped to Rye with fellow artist Howard Stormont (1859 - 1935) in 1898. They married in St Mary's Church, Rye, and lived in Ypres Studio, Ockman Lane.

Howard's abilities lay in landscape painting and portraiture, while Mary painted landscapes and interiors, and was especially sought after for her flower paintings. They exhibited all their lives, showing regularly at the Royal Academy of Arts, and at art societies and galleries in London and the South East.

After Howard's death, Mary continued to live at Ypres Studio, with its inspiring views across the marshes to the sea.

At her death, Mary left the Studio to the Trust, and it was named the Stormont Studio in their memory.

The original bequest, of some 100 works, forms the core of what is now, with additions from bequests, donations and purchases (with funds from the Victoria & Albert Museum, the Contemporary Art Society and Friends of Rye Art Gallery) the Rye Art Gallery Collection of over 460 works

Please note that Rye Art Gallery, Rye Art, RAG, Easton Rooms and Stormont Studio are all registered titles and used by Rye Art Gallery Trust.

Details of the policies set by the Trust are in the sub-section "The Trust and RAG Policies".