My paintings develop directly on the canvas without preparatory sketches or predetermined imagery.

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I came to abstraction through acting. In performance, preparation is internalised so that the work can happen in the moment. I found the same thing in painting: sketches interrupted that process. Working directly on the canvas allowed me to look, respond and adjust.

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Geometry provides a framework rather than a plan. Colour, structure and rhythm develop through the making of the painting until the work resolves.

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Titles come afterwards. They offer one possible point of entry, not an explanation.

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Paul Butterworth is a UK-based painter working in geometric abstraction. He graduated with a BA (Hons) in Painting from the University for the Creative Arts in 2024. His work has been selected for national exhibitions and awards including The Graduate Art Show, RISE and the CCA Emerging Artist Award.