Nick Payne credits William Arthur Phillips, a gifted artist and teacher in Tacoma, WA, as an important early influence who developed Nick's art, and who inspired a career in art and education. Paintings posted on this site span four decades.Following graduation from the University of Washington, Nick spent two years in Belfast, Northern Ireland. Then he returned to the USA, and taught at a rural public school in northeastern Washington State. During this time he married. Several paintings from this time feature his children. After 20 years in the classroom,...more