After Paine settled in Jersey, he exhibited little though he worked on commissions. His most important work was a series of watercolours depicting Jersey scenery and ways of life done during the 1950’s. Unlike his earlier commercial work this watercolour of a shipwright’s yard is meticulous in its detail and full of mysterious colour effects. The reason for the streaks in the sky is unknown. A black and white image of this painting can be found below.
Jersey Shipwright
Signed and dated by Paine July 1959. The cottage is typical of its kind.
Joan Paine said that Paine regarded himself as primarily a watercolourist and it seems that was the genre he most enjoyed. In 1948 Teuila wrote, “How I wish I could see your water colours of Ireland!” Tramore Cove (County Waterford) was exhibited at the Royal Academy (1037) in 1959, displayed on an easel on the main staircase. It was priced at 50 guineas and remained unsold.
Tramore Cove, County Waterford
Paine’s need to earn a living by teaching and producing commercial art resulted in a small body of such work. When he was more at leisure in Jersey he painted a series of watercolours that were issued as post cards, several of them of Mount Orgueil Castle at Gorey.
St. Mary’s Crypt, Gorey Castle
Gorey Castle Gate
Queen Elizabeth Gate, Gorey Castle
Gorey Pier
Geoffrey’s Leap and St. Catherine’s Breakwater
Paine titled this painting ‘Anne Port’.
Auray, Brittany, dated 1947
Auray is inland from the south coast of Brittany about half way between Brest and Nantes.
Jersey Boat Yard 1950’s
Members of the Jersey Historical Society tried to locate the yard and suggested that it shows ‘the boat privately built [as a retirement project] by Commander [Norman] Hall RNVR. He lived initially above St. Aubin but later … at St. Ouen.’ Paine may well have known him.
‘Jersey Shipwright’ July 1959
Titled and signed by Paine. Location unknown, possibly at Trinity. It is a typical building of its type.
Jersey Farm (watercolour sketch)
Jersey View
Possibly ‘Sorcini’
Anna Paine owned a boat called ‘Sorcini’ which may be the one depicted here. The initial ‘J’ on the boat is part of the registration, and would be followed by a number – used on all registered fishing boats. The boat is definitely in Jersey, probably at Gorey, as the Island is subject to one of the greatest tidal ranges in the world – 38′ or 12 metres. So the ‘legs’ that are shown had to be fitted on when the boat was in harbour to prop it up, sitting on the sand, as the tide ebbed. (Information courtesy of the Jersey Historical Society)
Charles Paine A.R.C.A. 