The Mont Marte Story

In early 2002 my son Cheyne asked me to teach him how to operate a business. My wife Carol and I were excited that he, at last, and at the ripe old age of 20 wanted to learn about business.

I was retired after having sold my retail businesses and did not want to become a retailer again.

We decided that we should try our hand as an importer/wholesaler, using my retail background and let the business take us wherever it decided.

Starting by importing clay pots, hammers, whistling gnomes and the like, one day we stumbled across artist canvases and from that Mont Marte was born.

We were onto something and after researching the Australia marketplace found that art materials were very expensive and really available only to an elite few. When we talked to people the same story was echoed time and time again "used to do it as a kid, love art but just can’t afford it".

At Mont Marte we believe "art should be available for everyone to enjoy" and that’s what we set about doing.

Over the past 10 years with those words echoing in our ears we have expanded from a few basic art lines to build a comprehensive range of quality art products that just about anyone can afford and enjoy.

With the growth of our range has come the growth of our Mont Marte family. Grandad and Nana Carol, Cheyne, close friend but general pain in the butt Frank (Operations Manager) together with all our fantastic staff, grandkids, artists and friends – we all make up the Mont Marte family.

We are all committed to our core belief that ““art should be available for everyone to enjoy” and that means worldwide, not just in Australia.

We have joined forces with our major suppliers in China and built a warehouse/distribution centre to enable supply of the ever growing range of Mont Marte products across the world.

To celebrate the launch of this, our new website, our grandkids with the help of Mont Marte Joe, Lily, Merilyn and Monica (our creative and design team) painted this amazing Mont Marte family portrait.

Click on the play button on the right to join in with them and the fun they were having.

Bob Kent
CEO