Paul Prue is a renowned stained glass artist from Haverhill, MA who has been working in the medium for over 30 years. He learned the craft and has restored windows throughout New England, including in several churches in Haverhill. Prue also plays guitar and hopes to one day open a cultural art center in Haverhill to showcase local artists.

1. Contact: Meghan Cary
Intern at Creative Haverhill
Email: Director@CreativeHaverhill.org
Phone: 978-420-3729
Address: 4 Summer St - room 309 - Haverhill, MA 01830
Paul Prue: Renaissance Man
“I’ve always been an artist... I’ll be 90 still pulling windows out of a church
and restoring them,” said Paul Prue, Haverhill’s own Renaissance man who is a
graphic designer, guitar player, community activist and most impressively a highly
acclaimed master of creating and restoring stained glass windows. For thirty-three
years Prue has worked at his craft in many states, getting his start here in Haverhill
with the help of some encouraging grammar school art teachers. He studied at the
Vesper George School of Art in Boston and later worked as a font designer at
Compugraphic in Wilmington, MA before returning to Haverhill where he currently
resides. “I like Haverhill, I’ve lived all over the country but I keep coming back here,”
said Prue.
Moving from a font designer to full time artist wasn’t an easy move for Prue
but he says, “You have to have confidence. It is the first thing I look for when hiring
assistants.” Prue truly believes that “you can make a living doing what you want to
do.” He was given the chance to learn the lost art of creating stained glass windows
and hasn’t looked back. A lot of hard work and an inspiring attitude towards life
have turned into a career full of happiness that has brought joy to many. Prue uses
state-of-the-art and time-tested methods to transform a customer’s vision from
their initial design into a finished product. Prue has created series such as “Woman
in Garden”, medieval works, and an antique collection which includes not only
windows but lamps and chandeliers.
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2. Contact: Meghan Cary
Intern at Creative Haverhill
Email: Director@CreativeHaverhill.org
Phone: 978-420-3729
Address: 4 Summer St - room 309 - Haverhill, MA 01830
Prue’s clients include restaurants, churches, public meeting halls and
individual collectors. His talents are on display in churchesthroughout Haverhill at
All Saints where he performed paint restoration, Saint Joseph’s and Saint James’
where he repaired existing windows, and at Sacred Heart’s where he restored and
painted stained glass window frames. In addition to churches, Prue’s work can be
found in restaurants such as George’s in Haverhill and the House of Blues in
Cambridge, MA.
“I enjoy making stained glass for Irish pubs because they use it in so many
creative ways.” Throughout New England, Prue’s stained glass has enhanced more
than a dozen Irish pubs where they have commissioned him to make windows, glass
partitions, entry signs and interior art. The owners of The Peddlers Daughter, who
are originally from Connemara, Ireland, are such fans of Prue’s work that they hired
him to make several stained glass pieces for both their Haverhill and Nashua, NH
pubs.
“One of my biggest challenges comes from restoring antique stained glass. I
have worked in churches that are more than a century old.” Prue explained that as
windows age, they settle. This causes a “wave effect” distorting the shape and look
of the image on the glass. Prue is able to reverse this effect by removing and
flattening the glass with heat and pressure. He has also mastered the skill of
resurfacing glass which enhances its vibrancy.
“One of my other passions is music. I love all forms of music and feel that
playing the guitar is another way for me to express myself.” Through the years Prue
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3. Contact: Meghan Cary
Intern at Creative Haverhill
Email: Director@CreativeHaverhill.org
Phone: 978-420-3729
Address: 4 Summer St - room 309 - Haverhill, MA 01830
has
collaborated with many other musicians and has also received critical acclaim when
playing solo. Not only does he love to be on stage performing, but Prue also hosts
open mic nights at a local pub where a few of his stained glass windows are on
display. “It makes me laugh when I overhear folks talking about my art when I am at
a gig. They don’t realize that the artist is standing right next to them. I have picked
up a few jobs that way.”
“I dream of one day seeing a cultural art center in Haverhill. The Armenian
Church that I am currently restoring would be a perfect location and it is no longer
actively used as a place of worship.” Prue is involved with Team Haverhill and
Creative Haverhill who are both advocates of artists who work and live in Haverhill.
“Hopefully I will be able to make this dream come true.”
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