Paul Rafferty painting in the South of France
Paul Rafferty was born in 1965 in Oxford. He is self taught but has received considerable support and encouragement from professional artists throughout his career . He primarily paints on location, in oil. He has clearly been influenced by the late nineteenth century French plein air painters, such as Bastien-Lepage - and their British disciples of the Newlyn School. Rafferty is a great admirer of the work of Edward Seago and his work possesses that same quality of observation and the ability to capture atmosphere.
Rafferty has lived in the South of France, California and London and has painted landscapes in these and at other locations. The common theme which runs throughout his work is his concentration of the differing light effects on the subject. Most of this is achieved by his painting on plein air - his studio is mainly used to complete the larger works.
Since 2004 Rafferty has exhibited in the U.S.A. - Florida, New York (Grenning Gallery and Huntington Arts Council), Boston, Houston and Santa Fe.