About
Paul Treasure is a British painter known for expressive oil paintings that reflect the ever-changing spirit of the natural world.Movement, texture, and gestural brushwork bring each landscape to life—whether inspired by the Cornish coast or the backwaters of Kerala. Light and colour sit at the heart of Paul’s work, and his signature use of the palette knife gives a tangible depth and emotion to each scene.
Born in Gloucestershire in 1961, Paul studied at Cheltenham College of Art before moving to London, where his work gained international recognition. In 1991, he set off on a year-long journey across Africa, India, Southeast Asia, and Central America, later becoming expedition artist for the first crossing of China’s Taklamakan Desert.
Now based in Hampshire, Paul continues to draw from his surroundings—the rivers of the Test Valley and the seascapes of the south coast. Often working from memory, he paints instinctively, letting emotion guide the process. His studio is a place of energy and spontaneity, where colour spills across canvases and walls alike. For Paul, painting is more than image-making—it’s a way of being present with nature.
BBC Countryfile episode on Hampshire Chalk Streams shown on on BBC1.
This episode featured the chalk streams of Hampshire and the people variously involved with them. The crew filmed Paul, with presenter Anita Rani, on the banks of the River Itchen, the inspiration for many of his paintings. Following this, the BBC team then went back to his studio to film him commencing a painting of that river view.