A Look Back: The Origins of the Studio Tour

The Art League of Hilton Head held its first-ever Studio Tour on December 10, 1977, marking a milestone for the island’s growing arts community. The event was both innovative and intimate: for one day only, members of the public were invited into the private studios of Hilton Head’s most accomplished artists. It offered not just a view of the art, but a personal connection with the people who made it—a rare opportunity to see the creative process unfold in real time.

Among the participating artists were some of the most celebrated names in American illustration and fine art: Ray Ellis, known for his luminous coastal landscapes; Walter Greer, the Art League’s founding president and a master of Lowcountry-inspired painting; Joe Bowler, a nationally recognized portraitist and former Saturday Evening Post illustrator; and Coby Whitmore, whose work defined a generation of American magazine illustration. These artists helped shape not only Hilton Head’s cultural identity, but the national art scene as well.

The original Studio Tour was a grassroots effort, coordinated by passionate Art League members determined to make art accessible and relevant to island life. Newspaper clippings from that time capture the excitement of the event—highlighting the island’s transformation from a quiet retreat to a budding creative hub. Visitors wandered from one studio to the next, speaking with artists, watching them work, and gaining new appreciation for the talent quietly flourishing on the island.

Today, nearly 50 years later, the Art League is proud to revive this tradition with the same spirit of openness, curiosity, and celebration. The 2025 Studio Tour honors the legacy of those pioneering artists while shining a spotlight on the diverse talent that continues to thrive on Hilton Head. As in 1977, this event invites the public to step inside the studios, meet the makers, and become part of the story.