James Paterson was born in Darlington in 1977. He completed a BA Foundation Art Degree at Queen Elizabeth Sixth Form College and then went on to Nottingham Trent University where he studied Fine Art.


Working primarily in oils and acrylics James’ paintings are always inspired by everyday objects, adverts and popular icons. Paint is applied both figuratively and abstractly. The artist is influenced not only by a love of nostalgic pulp imagery but also by a passion for Art history. Influences can be found in Pop Artists such as Larry Rivers, Peter Blake and Richard Hamilton but more surprisingly others such as Whistler, Sargent and De Kooning in his flair for confident mark making.
It is the combination of fine art knowledge and tradition with low brow imagery that animates James’ work.


As an artist James often loses ‘mid painting’ which creates mass and volume. This allows you to accept the figurative interpretation but constantly be reminded of the abstract surface. Great attention is given to create a balance and rhythm between detail and loose shapes. Paintings are left purposely oblique as James states that-
‘I have always tried to make my paintings a collaboration, a calculation in which an answer can only be found with you as part of the equation.’