Paul Kidby - Illustrator

The Original Art of Paul Kidby

Paul Kidby

The Original Art of Paul Kidby

Paul Kidby was born in 1964. He left Greenford High School at 17 and on the Y.O.P. scheme as a dental technician making false teeth. He spent his evenings practising the disciplines of drawing under the weekly guidance of a retired art teacher. After a stint working in a factory studio painting designs on roller blinds, Paul went freelance in 1986 and produced artwork for various products ranging from greetings cards to computer game packaging and video film sleeves. Between 1991 and 1995 he worked for Future Publishing and produced over 200 magazine covers. However the work itself was not fulfilling creatively and Paul felt he had more to offer.

In 1993 his sister sent him The Colour of Magic by Terry Pratchett, and it provided the inspiration he was seeking and an opportunity to flex his imagination. He developed sketches of some of the characters, and queued up at a book signing in W.H Smith’s to give Terry copies of them. He has since worked on over twelve publications, including the fully illustrated The Last Hero, The Pratchett Portfolio, and The Art of Discworld, which showcases his illustration.

More than ten years later and recently re-married, Paul still produces Discworld artwork alongside his own creative projects.