Revolve Gallery

Paine Proffitt

Paine Proffitt’s paintings are symbolic, whimsical and dreamlike, celebrating the joys and hardships of life. His work explores a variety of themes including the ideas of cultural identity, emotion, romance, relationships, memory, sport, and the human condition. The majority of his paintings are filled with symbolism and allegories, with a psychological undercurrent of who we are as people and what we go through in life.

Paine has exhibited in several galleries and museums throughout England and Scotland.  He has also had the honour of a solo exhibition at the Museum of Rugby in Twickenham celebrating the 2007 Rugby World Cup in France.

Background

Paine was born in the United States to journalist parents and constantly moved throughout his childhood. Paine became interested in art as a teenager and went to art school to study illustration at the Rhode Island School of Design in Providence (USA) while also spending a year at the University of Brighton (England).  He moved to England permanently in 2001 settling in Stoke-Upon-Trent. After spending almost 10 years working as a freelance illustrator in the US he focused all of his attention on his own paintings.

Since 2001 Paine has accomplished both solo and group exhibitions of his work including shows in Twickenham, Edinburgh, Newcastle, Sheffield, Stoke-On-Trent, Bath, Cambridge, Nottingham, and others.

Inspiration

“Artistically I am inspired by a wide range of artists, notably Chagall, Picasso and Matisse.”  Paine’s painting themes are influenced by life in Northern England: the people, the cities, the industries and the culture.  He also finds his inspiration in what makes us tick as people: emotions, love, work, interests, family, heartache and memories.

Paine's love of football and rugby acquired through living in England has also found in its way into his work. Through looking at the game itself, as well as the passions of the game, the loyalties and the love.

"The Black Cat and Blue Cat are inspired by old French theatre posters from the early 1900s.  The other cat pieces are from a series of paintings of cats with the backdrop of the countryside and northern mill-towns."

To Canvas

“I sometimes start with a rough idea or sketch and use that as a starting point, while letting the piece take on a life and direction of its own during the painting.  I will  build up a surface texture, then do a rough pencil drawing on top. Then I start painting and building up the colour and textures of the piece.  I will change, add, and take away elements as the painting evolves depending on what looks and feels right.  Evolving the paintings this way keeps both the process and the piece interesting and exciting.”