Biography

Reginald Alfred Payne was born on July 16th 1915. He was the son of Alfred and Minnie (Ford) Payne of Montreal. His father was a house designer and builder and later a real estate agent in Montreal West, where he built many of the stately homes which still grace Montreal West. In early childhood, “Reg” was not very robust and in frail health until he reached high school. He attended Elizabeth Ballantyne and Montreal West High schools.  With proper medical care, he then became quite healthy and was able to pursue his two ambitions: becoming an artist and playing the piano.

The first time he painted he was a young boy confined to the bed with a childhood complaint. He asked his mother to bring him some oil paints and a brush.  He then asked for a white plate and proceeded to paint flowers on it. From day to day on, he continued to paint, later leaving his home on his bicycle for the Laurentian Mountains of Quebec, where over many months he produced a number of beautiful sketches, some of which you can see today on the exhibit table. These were done in the 1940’s and early 1950’s. He was greatly encouraged when he was able to find buyers for these paintings.

Collection of Poetry and Journals

In 1960, he left Montreal at the age of 45 to take up residence in Knowlton, Quebec, in the Eastern Townships with his wife Jean (Grant) Harris and four children, Beverly Harris, David Harris, Thomas Harris and Allan Harris.  In 1963 he held his first solo exhibition and each year thereafter until 1968. They were very successful and furthered his reputation as an artist. His love of the sea and coastlines in Cape Breton found him there in 1968 where he began to discover new areas in his paintings.  This extended his yearly exhibitions in that region. Over the years he produced hundreds of paintings and his name is listed in the “The Art World of Canada”.  Reg received numerous recognition for his works over the years and have been involved the making of our National Flag of Canada. His works on this design in 1946 caught of eyes of members of Parliament and received appreciation letters from the House of Commons.

His second love was music and spent much of the later years of his life sounding out the classic on his Yamaha Grand Piano. His favourite composer was Chopin, but he played and produced tapes of all the composers. Among his life-long friends my be included William De Garthe, the well-known marine painter from Peggy’s Cove.

Reginald A. Payne passed away in Newport, Nova Scotia on March 13 1998, leaving much for others to enjoy in both his art and music.