Introduction

   Sara West
   A. Y. Jackson
   David Paton

David Paton (1921 - Present)

David Paton is a Fernie born artist who began to explore his interests in the arts from a fairly early age. He is known throughout Eastern Canada for his teachings at several art schools as well as for the artwork he has produced himself.

Born July 9, 1921 in Fernie, David Paton spent his childhood here before leaving for duty in World War II. While doing his service in England he studied nights at the Farnham School of Art and Guildford Polytechnic.

David Paton's art supply case FDHS (2329)	Case showing art supplies inside

Upon returning to Canada David moved to the West Coast to attend classes at the University of British Columbia. He later left the coast for Ottawa where he enrolled in Carleton College, and graduated with a Bachelor of Journalism in 1949. Several years later David received his B.F.A. and M.F.A. degrees from Cranbrook Academy of Art, in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan.

He attended the Artists' Workshop in Toronto under R. York Wilson, William Winter, Tom Hodgson, Cleeve Horne and Jock Macdonald and subsequently began teaching art there. David also became an instructor in painting at the Central Technical School that held art exhibitions with the United Nations in Canada and the Hadassah Club in Toronto. In 1957 he also exhibited with the Ontario Society of Artists at the Art Gallery of Ontario.

David Paton held two one-man art shows in Toronto before making Halifax his new home. While living there he taught graphics, drawing and painting at the Nova Scotia College of Art and participated in a two-man show at the Dalhousie Art Gallery.

Coast scene [untitled] oil FDHS (2049)

David Paton returned to Toronto where he continues to live.

A. Y. Jackson