Mont Marte was established by Bob Kent, Carol Kent, and Cheyne Kent, who originally operated a wholesale hardware business in Brisbane. According to the company’s account, the brand began unexpectedly in 2003 when artist canvases were added to fill unused shipping space in a container carrying garden products. The canvases sold quickly, revealing strong consumer demand for affordable art supplies.

Recognising the opportunity, the Kent family shifted their focus towards art materials. Beginning with canvases, Mont Marte gradually expanded into a comprehensive portfolio of creative products while maintaining an emphasis on affordability and accessibility.3

Mont Marte experienced significant expansion during the late 2000s and early 2010s.

Major Milestones

• 2003 – First canvas shipment arrives in Australia; Mont Marte officially launches.
• 2007 – Introduction of Mont Marte Art Centre retail model.
• 2009 – Establishment of Mont Marte Global and Mont Marte China.
• 2010 – International launch at Creativeworld Frankfurt, Germany.
• 2010 – Free online art tutorials begin.
• 2016 – Entry into the United States through Amazon.
• 2019/2020 – Establishment of Mont Marte USA.
• 2021 – Relocation to a new headquarters in Queensland.
• 2022 – Launch of Australian direct-to-consumer e-commerce platform.4

Mont Marte promotes the belief that creativity should not be limited by experience, age, or financial barriers.

The company emphasises several principles:

• Creativity should be enjoyable.
• Art should be accessible to everyone.
• Beginners deserve quality materials at affordable prices.
• Professional artists should have reliable tools without premium pricing.
• Learning resources should be freely available.

Its public-facing message centres on encouraging people to create regardless of skill level.5

Mont Marte manufactures a wide variety of creative products, including:

Painting

• Acrylic paints
• Oil paints
• Watercolours
• Gouache
• Poster paints
• Fabric paints
• Acrylic inks
• Pouring paints

Drawing

• Graphite pencils
• Charcoal
• Coloured pencils
• Pastels
• Fineliners
• Markers
• Sketchbooks

Surfaces

• Stretched canvases
• Canvas panels
• Canvas pads
• Watercolour paper
• Mixed media paper
• Drawing pads

Brushes

• Synthetic brushes
• Natural hair brushes
• Palette knives
• Brush sets

Sculpture

• Air-dry clay
• Polymer clay
• Pottery tools
• Modelling compounds

Craft

• Resin supplies
• Wood craft
• Foam boards
• Glitters
• Adhesives
• Craft kits

Studio Equipment

• Easels
• Art stations
• Storage boxes
• Portfolios
• Palettes
• Lighting accessories

Overall, the catalogue exceeds 2,000 products.6

Mont Marte organises many of its products into skill-based ranges to help customers choose materials appropriate to their experience:

• Play – Children’s art supplies
• Discovery – Entry-level products
• Signature – Intermediate-quality materials
• Premium – Higher-performance supplies for experienced artists

This system is intended to make product selection more intuitive for beginners while offering progressively higher-quality options for advanced users.

Mont Marte operates through several business divisions:

• Mont Marte Pty Ltd – Brand management, design, quality assurance, and innovation.
• Mont Marte Australia – Australian distribution.
• Mont Marte Global – International logistics and distribution.
• Mont Marte China – Licensed distributor for the Chinese market.
• Mont Marte USA – North American distribution.

These operations support worldwide sales through retailers, online marketplaces, and direct-to-consumer channels.

Beyond manufacturing products, Mont Marte publishes free educational content, including:

• Step-by-step painting tutorials
• Drawing lessons
• Craft projects
• Product demonstrations
• Artist interviews
• Creative guides
• Beginner learning resources

The company positions education as a core part of its mission to encourage creativity.

Mont Marte has stated that it is working to reduce its environmental impact through incremental sustainability initiatives. Examples include introducing recycled drawing paper and exploring more environmentally conscious materials and production practices, while acknowledging that its sustainability efforts are ongoing.6

Mont Marte is generally positioned as a value-oriented art supply brand, offering products intended to balance affordability with reliable quality. It competes in the same broad market as brands such as:

• Winsor & Newton
• Faber-Castell
• Derwent
• Liquitex
• Daler-Rowney

Mont Marte primarily distinguishes itself by focusing on accessible pricing and broad product availability.

Mont Marte’s branding emphasises:

• Accessibility
• Creativity
• Affordability
• Learning
• Self-expression
• Community

Its slogan, “I Can Create,” reflects the company’s goal of encouraging people of all ages and skill levels to engage in artistic activities.

Since its beginnings as a small Australian canvas supplier, Mont Marte has grown into an internationally recognised art materials brand. With a catalogue of thousands of products, worldwide distribution, and an emphasis on affordable creativity and educational content, it has become a widely used brand among beginners, students, hobbyists, and many practising artists seeking accessible art supplies.7

1. Story
2. Mont Marte FAQs
3. Mont Marte | LinkedIn
4. Mont Marte – EverybodyWiki Bios & Wiki
5. Mont Marte Global
6. Sustainability
7. Mont Marte Website Terms & Conditions