showcase your art to thousands
of visitors every day

Born the only son of a poor fisher family from Pointe-du-Chene, New Brunswick,Canada. Paul's 13th birthday marked a turning point in his life, from then on his summer vacations would be spent working long days on his dad's scallop dragger and lobster fishing boat. In winter, weekends were spent in the woods, hauling logs, cording wood alongside dad in -20 degree weather. Lunch breaks were short, just time to thaw his devilled ham sandwiches in a cup of hot tea and back to work again.



It seemed only natural to Paul that like his father, grandfather and great grandfather before him, he would become a fisherman. He quit school at 15 and when old enough, bought his own gear and fished for some 20 years, till the early 80's when fish were scarce and price's low. The next ten years Paul did odd jobs, eventually returning to the sea as deckhand with Marine Atlantic until one fateful evening when he hurt himself. While recovering, he turned to art having bought paint and brushes in a yard sale for $10.00. That was about 1988. He began painting wildlife but soon realized his heart was not there and eventually began to paint from memories of his childhood and many years as a fisherman. The next year had his own yard sale, put a few paintings out and someone came along, bought one (for $10.00) and told him this was folk art. This was to be the beginning of Paul's true vocation to be a painter.


It was only in the spring of 1995 he began wood carving after feeling an inspiration coming from his late grandfather, Roland. It was a feeling that he had to do more with his art. Since then Paul's paintings have evolved into 3-d works where boats and waves move and seagulls fly. The old red truck seen in Paul's paintings, carvings and home made business cards belonged to dad and brings back fond memories of squeezing in with his 2 sisters, mom and dad for a Sunday drive, down old country roads. Paul's father passed away in 2000 but his mom who is also a painter still lives in Pointe Du Chene, and each summer he sets a table by the roadside in front of mom's house and works at his art. He enjoys meeting the people who stop by. Saturday mornings are set aside for the Moncton Market where Paul and his mom present their folk art to the public.

Paul's paintings and carvings come mostly from his memories and the life he knew for so long living in the tiny community of Pointe du Chene, NB. The connection between his "folk" art and the community is made more concrete and situates his work as not just the effort of an isolated individual but as the work of an artist within a larger cultural framework, the way perhaps an acadian folk artist might tap into acadian heritage as the source of inspiration.

In December 2005 Paul received a creation grant for his up coming show Mother and Son, Reflections From The Heart. His mother also received an emerging artist creation grant for her part in this show. Last year he was voted president of the newly formed New Brunswick Folk Art Society. Paul is committed to promoting Outsider/Folk Art in the Province of New Brunswick! His goal is to search out every folk/outsider artist in this province and help them present their art to the world!

In August 2007 New Brunswick's first Folk Art Festival/ Festival Art Populaire was held in Shediac. Curated by Paul Mc Fadden in partnership with the Town of Shediac and the New Brunswick Folk Art Society. It showcased approximately 20 Folk and Outsider artists from across the province.

Gulf Crabbers (Private Collection)

2007
Acrylic on canvas Found objects
25cm x 50 cm

Ground Fish Dragging

2007
Acrylic on canvas Found objects
46 cm x 60 cm

Unloading Flounders

2007
Acrylic on Canvas found objects
120 cm x 60 cm

Haulin up dads boat

2007
Acrylic on Canvas. Found objects
20 cm x 40 cm

Scallop Dragging off Richibucto (Private Collection)

2007
Acrylic on canvas. Found objects
50 cm x 25 cm

Fishin off Pte Du Chene Wharf

2007
acrylic on canvas found objects
40 cm x 50 cm

Draggin Groundfish

2007
Acrylic on canvas found objects
20 cm x 40 cm

Fishin Lobster off Edmont bay

2007
Acrylic on canvas found objects
30 cm x 50 cm

Maneater 1

2008
acrylic on canvas
40 cm x 50 cm