Paul Robinson

Paul Robinson was born in Penrith, Cumbria in 1959, and later attended Carlisle College of Art. After graduation he moved to London, successfully working as a freelance illustrator, with his work commissioned by many leading publications such as the Sunday Times and Radio Times. He also continued painting in oils and acrylics, developing his strong style of working, inspired by the streets of London.

However, the contrast between his work on paper, and his work on canvas eventually caused conflict creatively, leading Paul to take the intrepid step of following a new career as a Fine Art Artist. Working from his eighth floor flat in a tower block in Tottenham, literally overlooking White Hart Lane football ground, Paul continued to pursue the themes of the “City and its People”, from the anonymous workers and architecture of the Square Mile, to the tourists in Trafalgar Square, working towards his first London exhibition in the early nineties.

When a friend happened to mention that there was a job available in a homeless hostel in Islington, doing four ten hour shifts followed by four days off, Paul jumped at the chance to make some extra money whilst still allowing time to paint. Working in this environment did have some effect on Paul’s work, but sleep deprivation may have also played a part. His work became darker with black a predominant colour.

Realising that he needed a change he transferred to a men’s hostel in Camden; a converted church housing alcoholics from all walks of life. From Architects to Merchant Sailors and Road-Diggers; it was a fascinating place to work, with tragedy tinged with humour.

But when Paul became a father for the first time, he found himself increasingly restless to leave London. Despite his passion for painting all aspects of the City and the West-End of London, he was continually drawn to the idea of leaving London and finally moved, with his family to North Norfolk in 1999.

Paul now regularly “commutes” to London to get new reference material, and has perhaps become one of the “Lost in Liverpool Street” subjects himself.

His work continues to look at the hustle and bustle of Liverpool Street Station and surrounding London, the lost figures amongst the City crowds capturing a passing moment in time. The subjects unaware they have just inspired a piece of art.

Paul Robinson’s work is included in private, corporate and public collections both in the UK and abroad. He exhibits regularly in London and Norfolk, and was proud to be selected to show (and sell) his work in Norwich Castle Museum’s first Open Contemporary Norfolk Landscape exhibition in 2005.