Hugh Paton (1910-1966)

Hugh Paton was born in Corrie Isle of Arran into a well-known Arran family. His father was Donald Paton, a Scottish painter, also born in Arran, and his mother Elizabeth Paton nee Nicol, whose family resided in Carlo which is on the road between Brodick and Corrie.

Corrie was a hub for artists during Hugh’s early life, with artist Jessie M king (JMK) and her husband E A Taylor having set up the Corrie summer school. Artists came from all over the world from 1911-1939 for tuition in sketching and painting.  Hugh’s father spent time with JMK and of course, it was inevitable that the young Hugh would benefit from this artistic connection. At the age of 15, he spent time in Kirkcudbright with JMK learning about painting on ceramics. He created many pieces, and it was through selling these that he managed to fund some of his studies at GSA.

Encouraged by his father, Hugh took up studies at Glasgow School of Art, but they were cut short when Donald unexpectedly died in 1931. As the eldest son he had to return to Arran to help finish the construction of the family home and business, Blackrock House, that his father had been engaged in before his death. He later returned to Art School only to have his time cut short again due to the commencement of the Second World War.

Challenging  years prevented Hugh from fully pursuing his artistic career until 1956, when he and his family moved down from North High Corrie to Hillcroft, where he was able to paint full-time. Thereafter he held an open studio at the house and an annual exhibition in Glasgow at the Blythswood Gallery in Blythswood Square and also The McLellan Galleries in Sauchiehall Street.

Sadly, Hugh was only to have 10 years of painting as he died in 1966 at the age of 56.

References: Avril Paton, artist's daughter

Photograph credit- James Anderson, Northcolour Ltd