Paul Smith

Born in 1972 in Wegberg, Germany, London-based artist Paul Smith is known for his painterly landscapes. The artist often contemplates scenes of abandonment, a return to nature and wilderness in his art. Although human figures are largely absent from his paintings, you can undoubtedly feel their presence.

Paul Smith’s Early Career and Style

Paul achieved his BA (Hons) in Fine Art from West Surrey College of Art and Design, Farnham, United Kingdom, in 1995. After a creative hiatus, Paul returned to painting in 2015. He is also an educator, illustrator, photographer and cartographer, experiences which have shaped the painter he is today. Paul is known for investigating lost places and capturing the essence of a moment of abandonment. Such thematic foci have been present since his earliest works, photographing the post-industrial landscape of the North East. At a glance, his nature scenes may appear empty. On closer inspection, however, his paintings explore time, place, and the point at which the human and non-human silently intersect.

Awards and Exhibitions

Paul has exhibited his work widely in the UK. His most notable solo show, Are You Leaving for the Country?, was at Muse Gallery in London. His work has also been on the shortlist for numerous awards, most notably the Dulux Let's Make Colour Awards and the Contemporary British Painting Prize. Paul's paintings are in public and private collections worldwide, including in the China Academy of Art, Hangzhou, the UK, Ireland, the USA, Canada, France, Germany, and the Netherlands.