Ben Payne exhibition at Heartbeat Gallery

About

Ben has been painting all his life and is largely self-taught, but he learned a great deal as he grew up, from his artist mother. After studying at school in Wimbledon, London, he went on to pursue other avenues of interest, but always continued to paint for pleasure. Graduating in Psychology, he then trained as a Behavioural Therapist, specialising in work with young children with Autism, which he believes taught him to value simplicity and to communicate in a very direct and accessible language. It has been described that his paintings 'display a certain innocence which set them apart from the work of his contemporaries', which Ben certainly attributes to this background. In 2003, as interest in his style of work grew, Ben turned what had been a lifetime's hobby into a flourishing career, selling work instantly with one of the country's leading fine art galleries. Since then, he has enjoyed successful solo shows throughout the UK and sell-out publications of his limited edition prints of his widely recognised escapist land-scapes. His new abstract floral work is an addition to his portfolio and the result of a natural creative development, as Ben continues to challenge himself and push his own artistic boundaries. His loose and fluid techniques create bursts of vibrant colour, and capture the uplifting nature of his subject to produce bold and beautiful original paintings.