Mary Fitzpayne facts for kids

Mary Fitzpayne (born March 23, 1928) is a talented English artist. She is known for her paintings and drawings that often show people and scenes from everyday life.

Mary Fitzpayne's Early Life and Learning

Mary Fitzpayne was born Alice Mary Payne in Catterick, North Yorkshire. She grew up in Leeds, England.

She loved art and studied at several famous schools. These included the Leeds College of Art, the Central School of Art and Design, and the Royal College of Art in London. She studied there from 1949 to 1952. During her studies, she learned from well-known artists like Roderigo Moynihan and Francis Bacon. She also met Eric Doitch, who was a painter and later became her husband.

After they married, Mary and Eric made their home in London. They eventually moved to a house in Camberwell. Their home became famous for its amazing art collection. Many writers, like Elias Canetti, were part of their circle of friends.

Her Art: Painting and Drawing

Mary Fitzpayne spent many hours practicing her drawing skills. She would draw people on the streets of Leeds. Later, she found inspiration from the people living on the streets of Camberwell.

Mary deeply cared about people who were struggling or on the edges of society. In the early 1960s, she started a series of drawings and paintings. These artworks showed homeless people and others living on the streets. She always wanted to show that these individuals were human beings. She believed they deserved to be treated with kindness and respect. Mary often visited the areas where they slept. She also went to the church of St Martin-in-the-Fields, which helps people in need.

Mary's paintings of the circus began after a visit with her children. This started an artistic journey that continues today. Her work often features clowns, harlequins, and circus acrobats. In 1971, she moved to the countryside in Lincolnshire. Her art still explores stories from myths and religions. She paints them in a lively and realistic way.

Mary Fitzpayne has shown her art in many group exhibitions. These shows took place in Britain, Germany, and the Netherlands. She also had her own special shows. These included exhibitions at the Usher Gallery in Lincoln in 1983 and 1989. She also had shows at the Blackfrairs Art Gallery in 1988 and the Guildhall Museum in Boston in 2000.

You can find examples of her work in different places. Both Swindon and Westminster Education Authorities have some of her pieces. Her drawings are also part of the British Museum collection.

Mary Fitzpayne's Family Life

Mary Fitzpayne married Eric Doitch, an artist who was a refugee from Austria. They got married in 1954. Mary and Eric had two children together. Today, Mary Fitzpayne lives in Lincolnshire.