| Paul
Youll was born in Hartlepool, England on June 8, 1965. He was
the youngest of a set of identical twins with three older brothers.
He and his twin brother, Stephen, were always fascinated by
science fiction at the movies, in comic books, and on television.
When asked the question 'why become an artist?', Paul always
says 'it's the love of science fiction that created the artist
not the artist creating Science fiction'. In 1981 both Paul
and Stephen enrolled at New College Durham to study art full
time with the goal to become bookcover artists for science fiction
and fantasy novels. The college taught many disciplines in painting,
design and life drawing, and at every opportunity he would slip
in a sci-fi piece of art into his course work. After graduating
from college the brothers then continued their study of art
at Sunderland University. Here Paul studied Natural History
and Visual Information Design The courses provided excellent
training for painting animals and landscapes which would prove
very valuable when doing fantasy paintings and rendering the
intricate backgrounds he is so well known for in the book publishing
world.
After graduating from Sunderland University many months were
spent painting various samples to show to art agents in London.
The work was well received and both brothers were advised
to show their art at the next big Science Fiction Convention
to be held in six months. During this time Paul and his twin
were employed at the famous Durham Cathedral to paint portraits
and illustrations of various artifacts for churches throughout
the North of England. After work he painted more samples to
exhibit and they showed their science fiction work for the
first time at the World Science Fiction Convention in 1987.
It was this first exhibition that got them their first book
cover assignment for a novel by Daniel Keyes Moran called
'Emerald Eyes'. It was everything that Paul and been working
toward.
This first job was the beginning of
a wonderful career as a book illustrator. From 1987 to the
end of 1989, the brothers worked side by side on many commissions
both from London and New York publishers. Paul and Stephen
split up their artistic partnership in 1989 when Stephen went
to live in the United States. Paul has worked since then for
just about every publishing house in New York painting covers
for such famous authors as Isaac Asimov, Robert Silverberg,
Anne McCaffery, Connie Willis, Ian McDonald, George Alec Effinger,
Charles Sheffield, Stephen R. Donaldson, Timothy Zhan, Jack
L. Chalker, George R. R. Martin, Fred Saberhagan, Mike Resnick,
Larry Niven, Dave wolverton and Catherine Kerr. Paul is well
known for his popular Star Wars X-Wing jackets and his Star
Trek illustrations for the Bradford Exchange. His work has
been exhibited in England and the United States. The Paintings
he does are incredibly full of detail and a high degree of
realism.
Paul Youll lives in a little village called Esh Winning in
the north of England with his wife, Annmarie and their two
cats, Fluffy and Smidgen. This website is dedicated to my
brother Graeme who loved science fiction as much as anyone.
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