Freeport Painter Estelle Grengs Named Walton County Artist of the Year
Freeport gallery owner and painter Estelle Grengs has been named Walton County’s 2026 Artist of the Year, an honor Walton County Tourism announced at its annual meeting Thursday, Oct. 29, at Hotel Effie.
“Estelle brings so much joy to her work, and she shares that same spirit with the people she teaches,” Tourism Director Matt Algarin said in the county’s announcement. “Her creativity and willingness to help others discover their own talents make a lasting contribution to our arts community.”
The accolade, now in its 24th year, goes to a Walton County artist whose work captures the creativity the destination is known for. Grengs owns Estelle Studio and Gallery in Freeport, which she opened in 2021 as a space to show her paintings and teach students of all ages. She hosts painting classes and private lessons at the gallery, takes part in the Cultural Arts Alliance of Walton County, and teaches beyond her own walls at spots around the region, from Hotel Effie to Props Brewery.
For Grengs, the recognition offered what she called “reassurance that the years of creating, teaching and taking chances have mattered.” “It kind of is validation for me,” she said. “You put in the long hours. Sometimes you wonder, ‘Am I doing enough? Is my style something? Is it good enough?’”
A self-taught artist born and raised in New Hampshire, Grengs built a whimsical folk-art style out of her New England roots and her adventures as an Air Force spouse. For people who encounter her paintings for the first time because of the award, she has one hope: “I want them to look at it, and it make them smile.”
The same evening named the county’s next hospitality honoree: Jason Draughn, who joined Sandestin as a beach attendant in 1998 and now serves as its activities director overseeing multiple resort operations, received the Van Ness Butler, Jr. Hospitality Award, established in 2003 to recognize excellence in visitor service and contributions to the community.
Originally reported by Walton County Tourism. Image: Walton County Tourism.
