14 Facts About Frank Paton

Frank Paton was an English artist of the Victorian and Edwardian eras, best known for his paintings of animals and scenes of rural life.

Frank Paton was a successful artist during his lifetime and could even count Queen Victoria as an admirer of his work.

Frank Paton was born on 23 November 1855 in Stepney, London, England.

Frank Paton's parents were James Paton and Mary Ann Paton and he was the youngest of their seven children.

Unlike his brothers, the majority of whom entered the Merchant Navy, Frank Paton showed an early talent for drawing animals and was allowed to follow his artistic bent.

Frank Paton's first known exhibition was at the age of sixteen, the piece being a portrait of a German peasant girl.

Family rumour has it that Paton briefly spent time in France working in stained glass before being recalled by his father.

Frank Paton was brought up from an early age by Basil Holmes and his wife Lydia, who was Mary's maternal aunt.

Frank Paton divided his time between London and the countryside, accepting commissions for animal portraits from their owners.

Frank Paton was a good family man and raised four sons and three daughters with his wife.

Art dealer and collector Edward Ernest Leggatt published a series of Frank Paton's etched Christmas cards annually from 1880 until Frank Paton's death in 1909.

At the time of his death Frank Paton was living in Walton-on-the-Naze, Essex.

Frank Paton spent the day of 12 November 1909 discussing and supervising the works with his builder and then in the evening, at around 11.30, suffered a heart attack.

From a book of Christmas Cards by Frank Paton, held at the British Museum.