Paine Proffitt

Paine Proffitt (born 1972; Phoenix, Arizona) is an American-born artist living in England, best known for his sporting works[1] and for his depiction of the "working man's life" most recently in North Staffordshire.[2]

Originally from Philadelphia, Proffitt now lives in North Staffordshire.[2] He cites some of his influences as being Chagall and Picasso and while not ascribing himself to any one art movement in particular, feels that surrealism, cubism and contemporary naïve art are the best labels for his work.[3] Similarities to L. S. Lowry have also been recognised due to the northern working-class themes of some of his works.[3]

The sporting theme in some of Proffitt's work has seen exhibitions such as that at Twickenham for the Rugby World Cup in 2007[4][5] as well as commissions for football programme artwork such as that at West Bromwich Albion in the 2011-12 season.[6] There has also been much focus on the two local football teams of Stoke-on-Trent, these being Port Vale and Stoke City. In 2009, some of the Port Vale pieces were exhibited in a disused shopfront in Market Place, Burslem as part of an effort to regenerate the town.[7]

Stoke-born popstar Robbie Williams is purported to own several of Proffitt's pieces.[1] An early Proffitt piece took top lot in a 2011 UK auction alongside work by Govinder Nazran, Sir Sidney Robert Nolan and Reggie Kray.[8]

References

  1. ^ a b Antiques Trade Gazette 1981 110312, 12 March 2011, p.56 "Modern debut in Cheltenham attracts bids from afar [1]", 26/07/2011
  2. ^ a b Kerryanne Clancy, The Sentinel, 26/09/2009, "Pleasure and Paine both reflected in sporting art [2]", 28/04/2011
  3. ^ a b Creative Stoke, "Creative Stoke interview - Paine Proffitt [3]", 28/04/2011
  4. ^ BBC Sport, 20/04/2007, "Rugby in the frame [4]", 28/04/2011
  5. ^ Twickenham World Rugby Museum, 2007, "Rugby In The Frame – The Art Of Paine Proffitt [5]", 12/07/2011
  6. ^ West Bromwich Albion, 16/08/2011, "The Gospel According to Albion [6]", 16/08/2011
  7. ^ Jon Harrington, The Sentinel, 14/09/2009, "Picture Poser [7]", 28/04/2011
  8. ^ Stroud People, 12/03/2011 "Pittville Pump Room antique sale report [8]", 26/07/2011