Louis Doyle Norton (1868-1940) grew up in Providence, Rhode Island. After studying art in Paris at the Academie Julian, he returned to Providence and set up his first studio. In 1906, Norton came to Kennebunkport and became enchanted with the area. Two years later he built a home and studio at Turbat’s Creek for his mother and himself.
Norton painted in oils and watercolors but came to prefer pastels. There are more than 250 Norton paintings extant in southern Maine, many are of local scenes. He also painted several murals for homes and public buildings in Kennebunkport.
In 2003, the Norton studio was in severe decay and was salvaged and moved to the Society’s North Street campus. The interior walls and ceiling are painted with scenes that Norton observed from his studio windows.