Paul Kennedy

Born in Glasgow in 1981, Paul’s talent was recognised early when at the age of twelve he won the competition to design the Edinburgh Festival Fringe poster.

He went on to graduate from Edinburgh College of Art in 2004 and took the decision then to become a full-time painter, working from his Glasgow studio.

In 2009, Paul was selected as a finalist for the prestigious Aspect Prize, marking an important milestone in his early career and reinforcing his growing reputation within the contemporary art scene.

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. Paul has also over the last number of years developed a distinctive series of coastal and seafood paintings. These works elevate everyday subjects - fish, shellfish and market produce, into striking contemporary compositions. Rich in texture, colour and detail, they reflect both Scotland’s coastal heritage and Paul’s ongoing exploration of place, memory and atmosphere.

“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.”