When Bill and Nancy Rhett decided to open a little gallery on Bay Street in 1981, they didn’t know what they were getting into! She was tired of lugging everything up and down the East Coast for exhibits, and he was tired of driving his fragile carvings to New York City twice a year to a gallery there. And they were both tired of trying to work in their in-home studios and then be interrupted to entertain clients at the same time. It was a hassle. So they rented a small space in town, hired a manager, and all was well. Business prospered as Beaufort grew.
By this time, their personal collection of antique maps and natural history prints was bulging, so they put a few for sale in the Gallery, mainly to see if anyone was interested. They were. And this facet of the business began to grow also. Now, the space was too small, so they bought and restored 901 Bay Street, a wonderful old building built in 1884, perfect for a larger Gallery.
As time went on, they made prints from some of Bill’s Grandfather’s work. These proved to be very popular.
And by 1984, William III was born, destined to become the fifth generation artist in the family! So now, after thirty years on Bay Street, Rhett Gallery is an enduring enterprise, welcoming visitors back year after year. Stop by on your next visit to our quaint and charming town!
