Ada Rayner

         Ada came to the United States from her birthplace of London in 1923, to escape what she thought was the repressive caste system of an old world. With no one she knew to greet her in America, she was accepted as a governess for a Pittsburgh family. That, changed her life forever. For seven years she devoted herself to taking care of the children of the wealthy in Pennsylvania and New York while harboring an interest in painting. She pursued that interest in New York as she continued her work. She took art classes at the Arts Student League, NYC, Columbia University, Grand Central School of Art.

         In 1930, with just about one week to spare for painting, she came to Provincetown, Massachusetts. Her first meeting with Henry was incidental but profound. The following year she came to Provincetown to stay permanently.

         Her English ways covered no pretensions. Ada built her own house, doing parts of the construction with her own hands. She then began the garden she became so noted for. In 1936, Henry and Ada were married in Provincetown. Henry use to call her his best pupil. For the rest of her life she continued to paint an uncountable number of floral paintings, landscapes, and portraits. Her works have been exhibited many times in shows and galleries in Provincetown. They have also been exhibited in the Copley Society in Boston and the Grand Central Galleries in New York City.

         Ada's later years would yield small figure paintings that she would eventually term as "imaginatives." She claims in her diaries that these made her finally feel free in her painting.

         In December of 1985, after several years of heart trouble, she succumbed to heart failure. Her ashes were placed in what was then the site of her garden.