Mary Fitzpayne facts for kids

Mary Fitzpayne (born on March 23, 1928) is a talented English artist. She is known for her paintings and drawings that capture different parts of life.

Early Life and Art Education

Mary Fitzpayne was born Alice Mary Payne in Catterick, North Yorkshire. She grew up in Leeds, a city in England. Mary loved art from a young age.

She went to several art schools to learn and improve her skills. She studied at the Leeds College of Art, the Central School of Art and Design, and the Royal College of Art in London. She attended these schools from 1949 to 1952.

At the Royal College of Art, Mary learned from famous artists like Roderigo Moynihan and Francis Bacon. It was there that she met another painter, Eric Doitch, who later became her husband.

After their studies, Mary and Eric made their home in London. They eventually moved to a house in Camberwell. Their home became well-known for its amazing art collection. Many writers, such as Elias Canetti, also visited them.

Painting and Drawing Styles

Mary Fitzpayne spent many hours practicing her drawing. She would draw people she saw on the streets of Leeds. This helped her become very skilled at capturing human figures.

Later, in London, she found inspiration from people in Camberwell. In the early 1960s, Mary started a series of drawings and paintings. These works showed people who were living on the streets. She felt a strong connection to them.

Mary always wanted to show that these individuals were human beings. She believed they deserved to be treated with kindness and respect. She often visited areas where they stayed. She also went to the church of St Martin-in-the-Fields, which offered help to those in need.

Mary's art also took a new direction after a visit to the circus with her children. This visit inspired her to create many paintings about the circus. Her works often feature clowns, harlequins, and acrobats.

In 1971, Mary moved to the countryside in Lincolnshire. Even after moving, her art continued to be inspired by stories from myths and religions. She paints these subjects in a vivid, realistic way.

Art Exhibitions and Collections

Mary Fitzpayne has shown her artwork in many group exhibitions. These shows took place in Britain, Germany, and the Netherlands.

She also had her own solo exhibitions. These included shows at the Usher Gallery in Lincoln in 1983 and 1989. She also had a show at the Blackfrairs Art Gallery in 1988. In 2000, she had an exhibition at the Guildhall Museum in Boston.

Some of her artworks are held by education authorities in Swindon and Westminster. Her drawings are also part of the famous British Museum collection.

Personal Life

Mary Fitzpayne married Eric Doitch, an artist from Austria, in 1954. They had two children together. Mary Fitzpayne still lives in Lincolnshire today.