Popular Beaufort Artist Ellen Long won an art competition sponsored by the 2005 Beaufort Water Festival, which celebrated its 50th anniversary. 'Golden Summer Memories' was the name of her painting and was the theme of the 2005 festival. Her glowing watercolor depicted sailboats on the Beaufort River and was transformed into a poster to advertise the 10-day event.

Ellen is well-known in the Beaufort art community. Her watercolors, which often feature Beaufort architecture, Lowcountry beach and wildlife scenes and distinctive flora of the area, are regularly exhibited at the Art Market, a mini gallery at Fordham Market at the corner of Bay and Carteret Streets, and at the Beaufort Art Association Gallery at 1001 Bay Street. Her work also hangs in several BAA satellite galleries including the Low Country Medical complex in Port Royal and the county government buildings off Boundary Street, and she regularly participates in an invitational art shows on Fripp Island and Hilton Head. Her art and design work has taken awards in Atlanta, the Caribbean and South Carolina.

Perhaps Ellen's most important contribution to the art world is the BAA Gallery. She spearheaded its development from the wishful-thinking stage into reality, an accomplishment that earned her a Chamber of Commerce Civitas Award. Before moving to Fripp Island, Ellen was a prominent interior designer and business-owner in Atlanta for 20 years. In addition to painting, Ellen has a framing business and occasionally accepts interior design work. When she is not engaged in creating award-winning art or working on a BAA project, chances are she may be out on a golf course, winning prizes there.