Whilst in the school sixth form he was instrumental in founding the Walsall branch of Friends of the Earth. Since then he has maintained a lifelong interest in environmental issues and has a deep love of nature.

Paul moved from one warm-hearted, grimy city to another in the early 80s to study Philosophy at the University of Sheffield. He fell in love with the place, particularly its close proximity to the Derbyshire Peak District, and decided to stay.

From the early 80s onwards, Paul spent much of a decade travelling throughout the world: visiting the USA, Australasia, India and much of Europe. In this time he was variously employed as, amongst other things, a deck hand in the merchant navy and as an archaeological technician at the University of Neuchatel, Switzerland.

Meanwhile, whilst back in Sheffield, an interest in comics and graphic novels led to various illustration jobs with UK outdoor adventure magazines.

When participating in life classes at The Mappin Museum in Sheffield, Paul was advised by several of his tutors to take up fine art – this led to foundation studies and then to a fine art degree at Sheffield Hallam University.

Whilst at SHU, Paul co-founded First Circle Artists Studios, a somewhat anarchically run set of workspaces serving a motley crew of creative individuals and based in an old school building in the Eastern part of Sheffield.

Then, in the early nineties, and alongside soon to be business partners Jon Barton and Simon Norris, Paul founded The Thing, a fanzine for rock climbers. Various commercial jobs that arose as a spin off from this (not least a job designing and copywriting two season’s worth of brochures for Adidas Adventure) led to the establishment of Vertebrate Graphics and a 10-year career as Creative Director.

Specialising in the outdoor industries, and with a bit of graft from all involved, VG became a clear contender for the leading UK agency in this field. Around this time Paul also co-authored (with Jon Barton and Simon Norris) the comic book November – winner of the Llandudno Mountain Literature Festival Prize for an Outstanding Contribution to Mountain Literature.

Throughout, Paul has ensured that time was found to continue painting, exhibit regularly and has achieved an excellent sales record through the Cupola Gallery in Sheffield.

Paul’s time off from this busy schedule was spent enjoying the landscape - climbing, cycling and walking in the Peak District and elsewhere. Paul has recently taken up surfing and is pursuing this new passion with characteristic enthusiasm!

In 2005 Paul left Vertebrate Graphics to concentrate on painting and drawing.

Paul lives with his wife and son in Sheffield, not far from the Bradfield moors.