The Montalba sisters were regular contributors to the Royal Academy Summer Exhibition during the 1870s. Ellen studied at the South Kensington Schools, which later became the Royal College of Art, and in Europe, being based in Venice along with her family. She painted portraits, figure studies and landscapes including life-size portraits. Among the portraits she exhibited was one of her sister Clara and also one of the Princess Louise. She exhibited her work at the Woman's Building at the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago, Illinois.