JAMES MOORE RHETT (1893 - 1941), Bill's grandfather, lived and painted all his life in Beaufort. His work, mostly pastels and charcoals, are charmingly naïve almost Oriental in their design. He captured the essence of the Lowcountry with a few simple strokes, a difficult task for most. We are pleased to have been able to reproduce a few of his works that we have inherited.
Bill (WILLIAM MEANS RHETT, JR.) is most noted for his wood sculptures of wildfowl done feather by feather. He has had Place of Honor in the prestigious Easton Waterfowl Festival that is held annually in Maryland; exhibited for years in the Crossroad of Sport in New York City; and has even had his work sold through Sotheby's. Occasionally, he does oil paintings and has giclee prints made of his work.
NANCY RICKER RHETT, Bill's wife, is a fourth generation artist on her father's side. Primarily a watercolor painter and book illustrator, she occasionally ventures into other media. She is mainly self-taught and abstains from competitions, therefore her bio is mercifully short. Her works, however, are worldwide.
WILLIAM MEANS RHETT III, their
son, simply decided to start painting when he was eighteen, never having
done so before (since kindergarten days). His preference is to paint realistic
landscapes and creek scenes in oils and watercolors, a fifth generation
up-and-coming artist in the family.