About Paul Kneen
I am a contemporary abstract portrait artist based in Stamford, Lincolnshire. Through painting, I explore themes of pressure, resilience and the challenges many of us face in modern life. My work has been exhibited in solo and group exhibitions across the UK and internationally, including Peterborough Museum, BOXPARK Shoreditch and Discovery Art Fair Cologne.
Faces sit at the centre of my paintings. They remain recognisable, but are fractured and intersected by layers of colour, geometric structures and sharp divisions created through masking and repeated layers of paint. These fragmented works reflect experiences many of us recognise — moments of uncertainty, persistence and determination that often sit beneath the surface of everyday life.
Original paintings and limited edition prints are available directly from my studio. You can explore current pieces below.
“These paintings are not statements of despair,
but recognitions of persistence.”
Process & Approach
Each painting develops slowly through a process of taping, masking and layering acrylic paint. Areas of the canvas are repeatedly covered, painted and revealed, creating the sharp edges, intersecting forms and fragmented structures that run throughout the work.
As the layers build, the process becomes increasingly immersive. Decisions are made, revised and revisited as the painting develops, allowing me to focus entirely on the work in front of me. It is one of the few times where the distractions and demands of everyday life fall away.
While there is often a clear starting point, the final image is rarely planned in every detail. Shapes, colours and relationships are continually adjusted as the painting develops, creating a constant push and pull between order and chaos. The challenge is not to eliminate either, but to find a sense of harmony between the two. In many ways, that balance mirrors the themes explored throughout the work.
Why Do I Paint Abstract Portraits?
After completing a BA (Hons) degree in Sheffield I moved to London for six years before spending a decade in South Africa, where I continued to paint and exhibit my work. In 2017 I returned to the UK making Stamford my home.
During that time, I became increasingly influenced by street art and artwork that had something to say — work with depth, tension and a sense of purpose beyond decoration.
That interest led me towards the human impact behind those ideas: how pressure, uncertainty and the complexity of life affect us, and how we find ways to cope, adapt and keep going.
This is why portraiture remains central to my work. The face is something we can all relate to, and because my paintings explore human responses to the world around us, it provides a recognisable point of connection. Abstracting the portraits allows me to use shape, colour and fragmentation to explore how we process, carry and respond to the pressures of modern life.
As Seen In
