In 1844 Paton's first painting, "Ruth Gleaning", was exhibited at the Royal Scottish Academy. He won a number of prizes for his work including for two of his most famous works "The Quarrel of Oberon and Titania" and "The Reconciliation of Oberon and Titania" (1847 – Westminster Hall), both of which are available to public view at the National Gallery of Scotland. An earlier study of the "Quarrel" painting was completed in 1846 and featured as Paton's diploma picture at the Royal Scottish Academy that year. The Academy purchased the earlier work for £700.