Claire Payne is a Vermont-based wildlife artist and photographer whose work is driven by a lifelong passion for nature and a enthusiasm for conservation.
With a background in both fine art and visual communication, Claire brings a distinctive blend of technical skill and emotional resonance to her paintings. As she says, "Conservation begins with space. In a world where natural habitats are rapidly disappearing, the most fundamental need for every species is simply room to live. I have a passion for protecting and preserving wild spaces - because giving wildlife the room they need to exist is the first step toward ensuring their future survival."
Claire works with the Friends of Missisquoi Wildlife Refuge, where she combines her artistic talents with a passion for wildlife and conservation. Each year, she helps organize a weekend-long celebration of World Migratory Bird Day, featuring a local wildlife art show, live painting demonstrations, and interactive events on the refuge. Through these efforts, Claire works to inspire public appreciation for wild spaces and the creatures that inhabit them. She also spends time in the field photographing animals to learn more about their habits and the world they live in.
Claire pledges 30% of the proceeds from the sale of her paintings sold on her AFC site will go to: The Audubon Society or to WildAid.
In addition to her studio practice, Claire is an active advocate for environmental stewardship. She has served as a board member for the Friends of Missisquoi Wildlife Refuge and has hosted plein air events and open studio and a multitude of community painting events to engage her community with art and nature.
As both a painter and photographer, she spends time observing animals in their natural habitats. These field experiences are at the core of her creative process. Striving to capture more than just likeness - she wants to portray the spirit, the tension, and the quiet power of the creatures she studies. As an advocate, she hopes to engage viewers not only with beauty, but with meaning - offering a visual reminder of the wild spaces and species we stand to lose, and the responsibility we share in preserving them.
Claire recently claimed her dual citizen and with the addition of her Canadian Citizenship, she rekindles her relationship with her heritage. Claire now lives in Vermont, USA with her husband, Joe, and continues to find inspiration in the landscapes, wildlife, and changing seasons of the Northeast USA and Quebec.
