The Artist

Trooper of the Queen's Own West Kent Yeomanry 1895, by Harry Payne

His paintings are in numerous museums and army messes, and he excelled at painting historic battles and historic uniforms. Whereas others often produced rather wooden images, concentrating on showing off a particular uniform, Harry’s are well designed and varied, slickly drawn and often show witty and affectionate views of off-duty life.

His pictures also show extensive research, in which he was undoubtedly assisted by his Troop Quartermaster (forerunner of the Squadron Sergeant Major) Charles Hobson of Hobson & Co the military clothiers.

Harry was one of the first artists to exploit the new fashion for illustrated post cards which began when the Post Office changed the rules in 1894 to allow such cards to be sent, without envelopes, at a lower rate than letters.