Paul Howard North
Paul Howard North, 62, has taken his enthusiasm with art to a new level and has gone from fork-lift truck driver to professional artist.
Having left school in 1961 with no qualifications, Paul always had a passion for art – from painting as a pastime on holiday to doing family activities sketching with the children. He also set up an art club at work 18 years ago, demonstrating the techniques he’d learnt from books and trips to galleries.
When he was made redundant in 1997, Paul decided to take his passion one step further with a formal qualification – a GCSE in Art & Design, gaining an A*. He has gone on to gain a whole range of qualifications – including AS and A-level in Art & Design – and is now in his second year of a Foundation Degree in Art and Design Enterprise at Leeds City College.
“Having a lifelong passion for art, I found that reading books was not enough. I needed to learn new techniques, stimulate my imagination and extend my knowledge,” said Paul. “After completing a GCSE, AS and A-level in Art, I enrolled on the Foundation Degree course. With academic qualifications, I hope I can move forward as a professional artist.”
He supports local charities – the Multiple Sclerosis Society and St Gemma’s Hospice – by holding demonstrations, workshops and exhibitions, and has also donated part of sales of his work.