Paul Floyd Blake was born in London in 1961. Whilst his mother, Eileen Blake, always encouraged his artistic tendencies, coming from a mixed race, working-class background, Paul left school to work in the industrial laundry business rather than fulfilling his dream of going to art college or playing football for Spurs.
However, he always continued his interest in art and photography and, as a mature student, finally went first to Halifax College in 2002 and then to Bradford College, from 2003 to 2005 where he gained a first class degree in photography.
Since then, Paul has worked full-time as a photographer, raising his profile and reputation and developing his style of documentary and portrait photography, which is enquiring and questioning, yet inclusive and compassionate.
His artistic practice focuses on the intricacies of ordinary life, using a mixture of portraiture and landscape that blend classical compositions with contemporary issues. His themes are the new cultures and identities born out of an era in which we are no longer defined, purely by our race or class, but have multiple identities that change according to environment and context.
In 2005, Paul won the LDC/Redeye student award for a project entitled This Working Life.
In 2006, he was selected by Francesco Bonami to exhibit at Foundation Pitti Florence as part of Human Game.
In 2009, Paul won the NPG/Taylor Wessing National Portrait Prize.
In 2012, he produced his first Monograph of photographs Personal Best which was published by Dewi Lewis, and exhibited at Impressions Gallery, Bradford.
Paul has been part of the Bradford Grid, a collective of photographers who live or work in Bradford since 2004.
He has also undertaken numerous artistic and commercial commissions for various clients. To download a copy of Paul’s CV please click on the link below.
