Paul John Ballard (b.1960)

Paul John Ballard, born in 1960, was always prized as the best artist at Highbury Grove School. He was expected to pursue a career in art, but instead he decided to join the army.

Paul John Ballard.

When he left the army, having obtained a City & Guilds certificate in Electrical and Mechanical Engineering, he spent the next 12 years in a variety of jobs. Meanwhile, never losing his interest in drawing and painting, he took a part time course at the London College of Art. He received a diploma and over the years, built up an impressive portfolio.

One day he decided he'd had enough of working in jobs he had no interest in and landed a job at Elstree Studios as a scenic painter. It was here that he worked on backdrops for the Glyndebourne Opera House and the Royal Opera House. His work was so successful that it gave him the confidence to approach art galleries throughout London to arrange exhibitions of his work.

It was one of these galleries that recommended him to exhibit at Erotica Olympia. He is the artist responsible for the designs of the WOW mug and novelty mug. He has a regular cartoon in the Kane magazine as well as illustrations. He now works on commissions and murals for clubs, hotels, restaurants and pubs. In various themes his work can be seen from Manchester to Eastbourne.

In his erotic artwork, his chosen media are pencil, acrylic, watercolours and oils. Each female is carefully sketched and 'brought to life'. Each has their own personality, but they all possess the individuality of the artist and his love of anything sensual. High contrast and sharp detail are the two elements that form the basis of his art. Paul chooses certain parts of the figure to create movement and flow, which allows the viewer to feel the strength and energy of the figure. He also uses pencil and paintbrush to create mixed media work.

After exhibiting for several years at Erotica Olympia, he realised that the only outlet for erotic art was at Erotica once a year, via the Internet and with very few art galleries as long as it wasn't too explicit. So he formed a limited company along with his brother Colin and Kenneth Clarke, and enlisted the help of Andrew Weston Smith. The project was the Beaumont Hall Studios, a 15th century derelict barn, which has now been totally transformed into a working art gallery. It houses the UK's largest assemblage of erotic artists, and apart from the displays of artwork; you can meet the artists and models and see them work. From there he wanted to form a movement for erotic art, not unlike the Impressionist movement, to help stimulate artistic ability. And so the Guild of Erotic Artists was formed with co founder members Kenneth Clarke, Andrew Weston Smith and Ray Leaning.