Still, needing a way to pay his monthly London rent, he took to the yellow pages and eventually found work with 'delete', a graphic design agency. Putting his photoshop skills to the test as a junior designer. Paul spent the next 15 years in this creative world, across different London agencies. Eventually, becoming a Global Creative Director. 

Working in this role, Paul reached every corner of the globe with an incredible list of big names; Ford, Ferrari, Guinness, Getty, PayPal, Sony, Coca-Cola and McDonalds, just to name a few. 

Although an important role with good money and lots of bells & whistles, it wasnt all it was cracked up to be: "Despite what many would consider a dream job and salary, I felt something was eating me up inside, which probably contributed to my severe depression during this period. All I ever wanted to do was create my art, not run a global team of designers and creatives, and it was never about the money. Though I did enjoy helping people with their career progression and I would always get artists involved when I could." 

This lead to a pretty gruelling lifestyle of corporate director by day, followed by a tireless pursuit of art by night. Then in 2020, amidst the chaos of the pandemic, Paul decided to quit his job and chase his real dream of becoming a full-time artist. 

"It was a bold move, but it's something I've been passionately dedicated to ever since. It has not been easy, but I can say that I have done it all on my own." 

After 4 years of independent artistry, LUAP has achieved another long list of accolades for his multi-disciplinary work that includes collaborations, exhibitions and commissions (even a scholarship program!). It would be impossible to summarise all of his achievements here, so to get a real scope of the work Paul has done, head over to the LUAP studio website or his Instagram account! 

When I asked about where he usually operates, for an international artist, the answer is pretty complicated: "In my London studio, the atmosphere is serene and focused, allowing me to immerse myself in painting—it's almost meditative, losing myself in the brushstrokes. But when I'm out on photoshoots, the experience can be quite intense. I have visited some of the most remote locations on the planet, enduring extreme temperatures. From camping in -15°C in Mongolia and travelling on horseback, to cycling through the Atacama Desert in 40°C, each adventure presents its own challenges and rewards." 

These expeditions to remote, extreme environments, are a crucial part of the process of capturing these unique perspectives that take form in LUAP's art. 

Looking towards the future of LUAP, Paul says he wants to make a short documentary featuring The Pink Bear in the mountains, specifically taking on the K2 base camp. "This documentary would inspire people to push themselves and fight their internal battles when everything feels lost. It would be about showing that perseverance and determination can lead to achieving what you truly want. So I just want to keep pushing and helping." 

As far as Grimbarians are concerned, we're proud that Grimsby has produced a world-class, hard-working talent like Paul. 

"I would love to do a project back in Grimsby. I think it would be amazing to have some of my artwork on permanent display there. Perhaps a Pink Bear eating fish and chips!" 

Paul has since begun work on a mural of his very own Pink Bear down Short Street, in Cleethorpes. The new artwork is part of the collection of murals from the Paint The Town Proud project. 

You can see more of Paul's work on Instagram: @luap 

Or on his website: www.luapstudios.co.uk

Words by Connor Stannard

Photography by Dan Clarke

Portrait proudly sponsored by...