Artist Profile
I first started painting in pastels in 1989, after painting almost entirely in oils for over seven years.
![[ The artist at work ]](images/paul_whitley.jpg)
I was so impressed by pastel paintings that I had seen at various art exhibitions that I was compelled to explore the beauty and expressiveness of pastels further. I realised almost straight away that it was my preferred medium and it marked a turning point in my work from which I have never looked back.
Over the next few years, I found that my pastel paintings of wildlife and landscapes were selling better than my oils when exhibiting at various galleries, but especially at The Black Sheep Gallery in Hawarden, North Wales.
Even though I still enjoy painting in oils, pastels are my favourite medium. I have always worked spontaneously and pastels suit my methods perfectly.
I find inspiration for my work in various ways but especially from walking my dog, Jazz, and observing the wildlife and nature in Cheshire and North Wales. I consider myself to be very lucky to live and work from a studio in the village of Hoole which is in the beautiful and ancient walled city of Chester.
I have traveled throughout the Mediterranean and enjoy the brilliance and clarity of the light along with the architecture, culture and cuisine of various countries, all of which can be seen in my work.
I am currently working on a collection of paintings taken from my travels to the Far East and Thailand earlier this year (2004).
![[ Pastel painting of an Orca pod ]](images/orca.jpg)