Mandy Payne

Mandy Payne’s practice is rooted in the built environment, with a particular fascination for post-war Brutalist architecture and the utopian aspirations behind it. Many of the buildings she depicts are threatened by demolition, redevelopment or gentrification. Her work acts as a visual record of these structures, documenting their character before they are lost or transformed.

Walking and exploration are central to Payne’s practice. She travels extensively across the country, seeking out buildings that inspire her and visiting each site in person. She takes photographs and makes reference drawings, which she later edits in the studio, often cropping them dramatically to focus on visually compelling fragments and details.

Payne predominantly paints onto hand-cast concrete tiles, creating a direct connection between the subject and the material surface. She carefully draws each image onto the tile before using masking tapes of varying widths to isolate areas of the composition. Spray paint is then built up slowly in layers, with the tape acting as a scaffold for the image.

She frequently incises into the painted surface with a scalpel or presses textured materials and wallpaper into wet paint to create additional textures. Fine details are finished with oil paint.

Through this meticulous process, Payne transforms fragments of overlooked architecture into carefully constructed works that sit between documentation and abstraction. Her paintings explore the changing urban landscape, preserving the visual identity of buildings while reflecting on their uncertain futures.