Paul Gardner

Born and educated in Edinburgh, Scotland, Paul Gardner came from an artistic family and a heritage of Scottish and European tradition. While he found drawing and painting to be a natural instinct, he had the guidance of art entrepreneur Richard Demarco, who had been at the forefront of the Scottish Contemporary Art scene for three decades, and Bill Gillon, respected painter and lecturer. Both were influential in helping Paul to expand his artistic talent. He studied under Sir Robin Philipson, David Michie and William Bailey and received a graduate degree in Fine Arts from Edinburgh College of Art, with a major in drawing and painting. He also earned a teaching degree and became an art instructor with Lothian Region.

Of Paul's first one-man show at the Collective Gallery in Edinburgh in 1986, Edward Gage, art critic from The Scotsman, wrote, "Using a variety of media and technical effects, creating mood with color and movement with line and texture, this unusual artist creates emotive visual poems from figurative and abstract elements that tell a private tale or symbolize a state of mind."

Paul moved to America in 1988 and eventually settled in Orange County, California, where he taught for many years at the Irvine Fine Arts Center. He worked out of his studio surrounded by the natural beauty of Laguna Canyon in the well-known artists community of Laguna Beach, producing paintings and sculpture. His art has been exhibited and collected by clients in Europe, the United States and Mexico.

In 1993, Paul exhibited paintings at the Abney Gallery and Limner Gallery, New York. Sean Simon of Art Speak wrote, "A sense of cosmic mystery comes across in the work of Scottish artist Paul Gardner. Employing vibrant colors, mixing geometric and organic forms, Gardner creates canvases that are a testament of faith in the act of painting itself."

He was featured in COAST Magazine's September 2009 issue, in which art critic and writer Roberta Carasso stated, "With his European training, Gardner moves the image beyond traditional landscape to reveal the endless wonders the earth manifests: its three-dimensional forms, colors, textures, and amazing configurations."

While classically trained, Paul was outrageously creative. As a professional artist and art teacher, his style took many different directions over the years, most recently an abstract view of earth, ocean and the elements. His adventure-filled trips including a life-changing trek to Kathmandu, his beloved Scottish Highlands and California's Big Sur, informed his art as well as expanded his outlook on life.

He had a strong musical aspect that was part of everyday life, reflected in his love of jazz, soul, reggae, rock. Paul's favorite instrument was the guitar, his heroes ranged from Jeff Beck to Carlos Santana to Larry Carlton.

Paul was an avid reader of mysticism, exploration, philosophy, art history. He was an observer of the ancient as well as modern world, and was astute at drawing parallels between history and the evening news.

His creativity shone bright in the kitchen. He loved to explore what he called Asian Fusion, creating amazing curries, spicy veg, sushi, rice and noodle dishes, and Vietnamese pho. He was proud of his chili pepper garden, and those home-grown chilis made it into just about every dish.

Always the teacher, Paul loved sharing his eclectic knowledge and enthusiasm, whether it was casually with friends or in the classroom. We were all happy to be his students. And he was fun, with a typically dry Scottish wit that encouraged so much laughter.

Paul is survived by his daughter Kirstie, wife Paula, sister Angela and brother David and their families who all adored him.

We miss him dearly, and the world is a better place for him having been with us, sharing his amazing talents. Paul's legacy lives on through his work, the most recent of which can be seen at www.paulgardnerfineart.com

Please consider honoring Paul with a donation to the Pacific Marine Mammal Center at https://apps.pacificmmc.org/open-fundraisers?PFR=56