Paul Kennedy British, b. 1981

Paul Kennedy born in Glasgow in 1981 is an artist known for his figurative, landscape and still life painting. He has painted tirelessly since graduating from Edinburgh College of art in 2004 when he took the risky decision to become a full-time painter. 

Paul’s talent was recognised early when at the age of twelve when he won the competition to design the Edinburgh Festival Fringe poster.

Much of his work has been inspired by the city of Glasgow and his holidays to the East and West Coasts, depicting a narrative between the people and their surroundings, his paintings are strongly connected to experiences in his own life but also in the lives of the strangers he encounters on a daily basis.

“We all have these histories which one day will be lost. I bring together drawings and photographs to create paintings that depict a narrative of the interaction people have with their surroundings.”

The ball really got rolling for Paul when he had success in the critically acclaimed Aspect Prize in 2009 where he won a finalist place. The prize (£5000) allowed him to be creatively free for 6 months concentrating on nothing but painting a body of his finest work for the competition. He didn’t win the competition however the experience was the start of his career in painting helping establish him as a painter.

Over the years Paul has found the choice to become a full time painter challenging at times but extremely rewarding the older he gets. 

‘It can be challenging figuring out how to paint to make money and how to remain true to yourself with your painting quality, technique, subject matter and a work/life balance but the more knocks and challenges you get the more you learn and the more used to hard work you get. I love the challenge!’

Being a painter for a living has taken Paul to the coasts of America and to the Mediterranean. He has found a passion for painting Maltese and Venice scenes in particular and stemming from that Paul has found success in painting Seafood. Especially Lobsters.

Paul currently shows with with Galleries in Glasgow, Edinburgh and London. He has been one of Thompsons Gallery artists for a number of years and is delighted every time to be asked back.

ARTIST STATEMENT

'For as long as I can remember I have had a fascination with being creative. I always loved making art work and being creative especially in School. I won a huge competition to design the Edinburgh fringe festival competition when I was 12 years old. This gave me the confidence to put everything i had into being an artist. I get so much joy from painting but also I get so much joy from being an artist. and recently after building a studio at home it’s been the best decision I’ve made.

My work is usually made up of three parts, painting for Galleries, commissions and for myself. All three are vitally important and must all be given equal attention. My subject matter has varied a lot over the years. I am most happy when painting people and like to go all out and create very strong figure pieces that tell a story. Over the years I have latched onto all sorts of subject matters from Nostalgic and authentic Glasgow subjects to the coasts of Scotland and the mediterranean and love painting the same things from each place whether thats the people boats or seafood.'

PAINTING STYLE

Paul’s style is a fusion of loose and expressive brush strokes to refined and considered realist aspects. He is very interested in light and dark tonal quality with very vibrant colour. He evokes a lot of feeling in his work from using vibrant colours or by using gentle quiet tones. He loves bringing the viewer the experiences he gets from painting the fascination, joy and sadness. 

’Pauls work takes on an almost Graphic quality, dispensing with extraneous detail and allowing his mastery of light and shade to take centre stage’.

‘I have a very active mind and constantly see ideas for painting everywhere I go. I find painting is medicine for me. I literally live and breathe painting, It’s food for my soul’

AWARDS

The Presidents Award, Glasgow Art Club Winter Show 2016

The Knox Award Paisley Arts Institute 2014

Braewell Gallery Exhibition Award, Paisley Art Institute, Paisley Museum 2011

RGI (David Cargill Award) 2010

Aspect Prize, (Aspect Prize Finalist) 2009

RGI (RGI Kelly Gallery Exhibition Award) 2009