Born in St. Louis, Missouri in 1884, prominent twentieth century painter and stained glass artist George Pearse Ennis declined an appointment at West Point to pursue his art. He studied at Washington University in St. Louis, the St. Louis Art Museum, Holmes Art School of Chicago and under the tutelage of William Merritt Chase at the Chase School in New York City. Following his studies, Ennis lived in New York and eventually settled in the small fishing port of Eastport, Maine where he founded and taught at the Eastport School of Art. Ennis was also the founder of the Grand Central Painters and Sculptors Gallery and School of Art in New York, was appointed the Head of the John and Mabel Ringling Art Museum in Florida and in 1932, created the George Pearse Ennis School of Painting in New York City. He was a member of the American Watercolor Society, National Academy of Design, Allied Artists of America, Society of Independent Artists, Boston Art Club, New York Watercolor Club and Salmagundi Club.

A Works Progress Administration (WPA) artist, Ennis participated in the Federal Arts Project during the 1930’s. He exhibited work at the New York World’s Fair, National Academy of Design, Art Institute of Chicago, Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, Corcoran Gallery, Society of Independent Artists, Salmagundi Club, Boston Art Club and American Watercolor Society. His work is held in the permanent collections of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Art Institute of Chicago, Corcoran Gallery, Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, Brooklyn Museum, University of Arkansas and the Peavey Memorial Library in Eastport, Maine, among others.