James Proudfoot ‘Roadside Trees’ Vibrant Mid Century Oil Painting on Board 20x24 inches

This a painting titled “Roadside Trees”, created by the British artist James Proudfoot. The artwork features a serene landscape with lush green trees and a field and a road. The painting is framed in an ornate gold frame, which complements the vibrant yet soft colors used by Proudfoot to capture the light and atmosphere of the scene. This piece reflects his skill in landscape painting, showcasing his ability to render natural beauty with a distinctive interplay of light and shadow. Actual painting size is 20x24 inches.

James Proudfoot (1908–1971) was a Scottish-born British painter renowned for his evocative portraits and luminous landscapes. Born on March 3, 1908, in Perth, Scotland, he was educated at Perth Academy and briefly attended St Andrews University before working in his father’s carpet business. His passion for art led him to London in 1937, where he studied at Heatherley School of Fine Art, Goldsmiths’ College, and later in Paris, honing his craft in portraiture and landscape painting.
Proudfoot’s career flourished in London, where he became a prominent figure in the art scene, exhibiting at prestigious venues such as the Royal Academy, New English Art Club, Royal Society of Portrait Painters, Royal Institute of Oil Painters, Royal Scottish Academy, Royal Glasgow Institute of the Fine Arts, and the Paris Salon. His work often captured the vibrancy of urban and natural scenes, with paintings like Sun on a House, Dieppe (1937) and Perth Rooftops in Snow (1936) showcasing his ability to render light and atmosphere with striking clarity. As a portraitist, he was sought after by actors and theatrical figures, including his wife, actress Ellen Pollock, whom he married in 1945 and portrayed as Lady Macbeth in a 1953 painting. His portrait of Sir Noël Coward fetched a record auction price of $2,004 in 2000.
A member of the Chelsea Arts Club, Dover Street Arts Club, and the Royal Institute of Oil Painters (elected in 1934), Proudfoot was also known for his wit, producing humorous caricatures he dubbed “Proudfootery.” His work extended to film,