December Holiday Exhibit in the Dr. N.Lee Morris Gallery at the Florence County Library

Holiday exhibit FEATURES GUYTON ORNAMENTS and more

During the month of December, the Dr. N. Lee Morris Gallery in Florence will feature a collection of framed images depicting Florence’s official annual Christmas ornaments. The ornaments were created over the past two decades by Florence native and internationally known artist Stephen Guyton. 

From 1994 to 2013, Guyton created annual Christmas ornament designs to benefit various local charities. In 2013 he donated high resolution images of the ornaments to the Morris Gallery. Recognized by successive Florence mayors as the city’s official ornaments, the collection includes local landmarks such as Timrod School, the old county courthouse, The Doctors Bruce and Lee Foundation Library, as well as several historic local railroad scenes.   Guyton’s paintings and other works are featured in public and private collections around the world.

As an accompanying exhibit, the gallery will also feature framed winning entries from the annual Florence County Christmas Card contest, dating back to 1999.


The Dr. N. Lee Morris Gallery is located on the second floor of the Drs. Bruce and Lee Foundation Library. Admission to the gallery is free and sponsorship is provided by Friends of the Florence County Library. For more information, please call (843) 413-7060 or visit www.florencelibrary.org.

Artist Stephen Guyton creates last Christmas in Florence ornament

As you decorate your Christmas trees this year, don’t forget to leave some room for a little piece of Florence. For the past 20 years, a limited edition ornament has been designed by Florence artist Stephen Guyton and sold to help those in Florence with disabilities.

But that streak is about to end.

Guyton is moving soon to Concord, NC, bringing an end to the annual ornaments depicting images, places and people from around the Pee Dee.

In 1994 when Guyton was approached about doing an ornament, the Ornament of Hope has just been released to raise funds for special needs in Charleston. Guyton was interested in the doing something similar but did not want to make just a single ornament.

“A friend of my mother asked me to do an ornament,” Guyton said. “I said that I would, but I wanted to do it for 10 years. This will be the 20th year and will probably be the last one.”

The ornaments in years past have depicted everything from local buildings and important figures in Florence’s past to people dancing the shag, the South Carolina state dance. This year’s ornament features that Florence County Museum, set to open in its new location early next year.

An employee of Amtrak for 31 years, Guyton’s first three ornaments were train related.

“The first ornament was the old 10-31 steam engine that sat down near the railroad,” Guyton said. “People used to put Lionel trains around their trees so I thought why not put a symbol of the railroad. That was the beginning of Florence.”

Reflecting on the last year of creating the ornament, Guyton said he has enjoyed the experience. Even more though, Guyton said being a part of making disabled peoples lives better has been the most rewarding.


“The specials needs is a very poignant part of Florence,” Guyton said. “I think it is a kinder, gentler setting. These folks are definitely in need of things to make their lives easier and that is the goal of the Volunteer Services Board, to provide things that the state doesn’t pay for…so that they can have a better quality of life than just an institution where they are housed.”

This article originally appeared on SCNow.com and was written by Melissa Rollins.

Guyton's 'The Last Picture Show' on display at The Clay Pot in Florence

Clay Pot Coffee Shop is hosting an art exhibit titled “The Last Picture Show” by Florence Artist L. Stephen Guyton.

Guyton is an internationally known artist distinguished for his flair for capturing the natural world as well as the landmarks that are nearest and dearest to our hearts.

As a child, Guyton found it easiest to express his thoughts through whimsical paintings and photography. A native of Florence, Guyton was raised in the traditions and culture of the Pee Dee. His family was bridge builders, restaurants owners and employees of the Atlantic Coast Line (now CSX and Amtrak).

In his youth Guyton met many travelers, including celebrities, writers, artists, and renowned personalities who emerged from the trains that once were the bustling heart of Florence. This love and pride for the history, places, and people of the Pee Dee gave inspiration to his vista of artwork.

Guyton is well known in the art community his volunteerism and in 1994, the Pee Dee Center asked Guyton if he would give his time and talents for a project that would benefit the residents of the center. It was the perfect fit as the project combined his love of community with his love of art.

That project, the annual Florence Christmas Ornament, depicts local icons, such as the FMU Performing Arts Center, William H. Johnson, The state dance “The Shag,” the Florence City “Police Badge” and the 2012 “Our Savior Greek Orthodox Church.” The entire Collection has been named by Florence’s mayors as the official Florence Christmas ornament.



Guyton works are in public and private collections in the US, Europe and Asia.