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Barry Paton’s Legacy – Coming Home.

Glaswegian Barry Paton’s work saw him travel the world, including to the Sudan, Pakistan, Yugoslavia and France, where he settled with his partner, Fiona Alderman in 2000 in Salignac, Eyvigues. Fiona set up a dance studio and Barry a film school.

Barry led an interesting life, enjoying creative experiences both at home and on an international scale. In the 60s he attended the Royal Academy of Music and Drama, where he trained as a stage manager. He went on to work as a technician with the Scottish Film Council then in 1968 established his own film and audio-visual company, Second City Films. He travelled throughout Scotland giving people in many communities a chance to view films on large projection screens.

In 1967 he trained at The National Film Board of Canada, working with the greats of that time – in particular, John Groves, the Father of Film and a Scot. Back in Scotland Barry was employed as a freelance cameraman by The Scottish Film Council, where he worked on many productions.  He went to Africa for Live Aid with Bob Geldof in 1985/1986 – on his return to Glasgow he met Fiona – and then focused on dance photography; working with Scottish Ballet, Lloyd Newson ( DV8 Company Director) and many independent dancers and choreographers. Barry photographed well known figures from the world of dance such as Rosina Bonsu and Jane Simpson in the dance studio at the old Third Eye Centre.

He was involved with many festivals including Mayfest and the International Jazz Festival;  capturing images of important events in Glasgow’s social history and photographing many famous people, including: Ray Charles, Martin Taylor, Carol Kidd , Humphrey Lyttleton, Gerry Mulligan , Jacques Loussier and Stephan Grappelli….