Our name is inspired by one of Pawleys Island’s most enduring legends—the Gray Man. Said to appear before storms, the Gray Man is a mysterious figure who watches over the island, quietly warning those in his path to seek shelter. Locals say that homes visited by the Gray Man are often spared from harm—a gentle guardian in gray.

Much like the spirit of the legend, our gallery and frame shop exist to preserve what matters most—your art, your memories, your stories. Since 1980, we’ve been helping the community frame everything from cherished family heirlooms to local artwork, treating every piece with the same care and respect as if it were our own.

We see our role as part preservationist, part storyteller—and maybe just a little bit guardian.

Custom framing can cost more than ready-made frames, but it’s an investment in protecting and showcasing something special. We use high-quality, preservation-grade materials and expert craftsmanship to make sure your artwork is properly measured, securely mounted, and built to last. Every piece is designed with your style and space in mind, and we guide you through the process from start to finish. In the end, custom framing helps preserve your favorite art, photos, and memories for years to come—and that’s what makes it worth it.

We specialize in custom framing and presentation rather than art restoration. While we don’t offer painting, paper, or photo restoration, we’re always happy to help you choose the best framing and conservation options to protect and preserve your artwork. Please note that we do not repair plastic, polystyrene, or metal frames.

At Gray Man Gallery, we believe true craftsmanship takes time, and every piece we frame is handled with care and attention to detail right here in Pawleys Island. Expert framing isn’t something to rush, and we focus on quality to ensure every finished piece meets the highest standards. Turnaround times vary by project, but most custom framing orders are completed within a few weeks. During the holiday season—especially before Christmas—it’s best to bring pieces in as early as possible to secure your spot on our schedule. If you’re working with a specific deadline, just let us know—we’ll always do our best to help when possible.

Yes. Every custom framing project is designed and built in-house at Gray Man Gallery in Pawleys Island. Our experienced design team works with you to select the right moulding, matting, glazing and conservation materials for both the piece and the space where it will live. Once the design is finalized, our skilled custom framers and craftsmen build each frame by hand in our on-site workshop—from precisely cutting and joining the moulding to cutting mats, mounting artwork, fitting glazing and completing the final assembly.

Keeping the entire process under one roof gives us complete control over the quality of every detail. Your artwork, photographs, needlework, heirlooms and memorabilia are never shipped away to a third-party framer; they remain in our care from the initial design consultation through the moment the finished piece is ready to hang. It is a hands-on, highly personalized approach to custom framing—and one Gray Man Gallery has been committed to since 1980.

We do! We professionally stretch canvas artwork in-house, carefully mounting each piece on custom stretcher bars to ensure proper tension, clean edges, and long-term stability. Whether it’s an original painting, fine art print, or treasured canvas piece, we prepare it for framing or display with the same attention to detail and craftsmanship we bring to every project.

We carry a wide selection of ready-made frames in classic, easy-to-use sizes, making it simple to find the perfect fit for your artwork, photos, and prints. Our frames work beautifully across a range of styles and spaces—whether you’re framing family portraits, children’s artwork, special memories, or favorite pieces from your travels. It’s an affordable, polished way to finish your art without sacrificing quality or character.

Our curated selection of ready-made frames are available in many standard sizes, including 3×3, 4×4, 5×5, 6×6, 5×7, 6×8, 6×9, 8×10, 11×14, 12×16, 18×24, 20×24, 22×28, and 24×30. We also carry 12×20 frames specifically sized to fit the official Georgetown Wooden Boat Show posters, making it easy to display these beloved local collector pieces year after year.

Yes. Gray Man Gallery custom-cuts picture-frame glass and acrylic in-house at our Pawleys Island frame shop, whether you need glazing for a new custom frame, replacement glass for an existing frame, or a specialty solution for an oversized or unusual project.

We offer an extensive selection of professional glazing, from economical clear glass to premium conservation and museum-quality options. Depending on your project, we can provide Water White glass, UV-filtering glass, anti-reflective glass, conservation clear glass, museum glass, lightweight acrylic, UV-protective acrylic, abrasion-resistant acrylic and specialty glazing for oversized artwork, shadow boxes, valuable originals and difficult installations. Options such as UltraVue UV70 and UltraVue UV92 provide exceptional clarity and reflection control while helping protect artwork from damaging ultraviolet light.

With so many choices available, you do not need to know which glass to request before you come in. Our experienced design team will consider the artwork, its value and sensitivity, the frame size, the room’s lighting, the placement of the finished piece and your budget before recommending the right combination of clarity, protection, weight and durability. Whether you are replacing broken glass in a family photograph or selecting museum-quality glazing for an important original, we will help you choose the option that best protects the piece without getting between you and the art.

Gray Man Gallery is located at 9841 Ocean Highway in Pawleys Island, South Carolina. You’ll find us on the river side of Highway 17 beneath the live oaks, roughly diagonally across from Pawleys Island Outdoors, just south of Peace Sotheby’s and before the entrance to True Blue Golf Club. Turn in at Island Signs and you’ll find our gallery and frame shop with plenty of convenient parking.

We moved to this location in 2024, but Gray Man Gallery has served Pawleys Island with local art, premium custom framing and personal service since 1980.