Paul Rafferty was born in 1965 in Oxford. He is self-taught but has received considerable support and encouragement from professional artists throughout his career . He primarily paints on location, in oil. He has clearly been influenced by the late nineteenth century French plein air painters, such as Bastien-Lepage - and their British disciples of the Newlyn School. Rafferty is a great admirer of the work of Edward Seago and his work possesses that same quality of observation and the ability to capture atmosphere.
Rafferty has lived in the South of France, California and London and has painted landscapes in these and at other locations. The common theme which runs throughout his work is his concentration of the differing light effects on the subject. Inspired by the Naturalism movement, Scottish Colourists and Impressionist painters, bold brush marks and play of light are often present in his work. Most of this is achieved by his painting on plein air - his studio is mainly used to complete the larger works.
In 2020 Rafferty released the book, Winston Churchill Painting on the French Riviera, published by Unicorn Press and the French version released by publisher, Albin Michel. The foreword was graciously written by the then, HRH Prince of Wales.
Although a painter, 2023 and 2024 have seen Rafferty’s rising success in his application to sculpture. He has created life-size bronze statues of Winston Churchill Painting, for St-Jean-Cap-Ferrat, France and for the Maison Pol Roger, Epernay, France. Paul Rafferty also created a one and a half life-size bust of Sir Winston, for RUSI at 61 Whitehall which was commissioned by the International Churchill Society, and its collaboration with the venerable, Royal United Services Institute. A maquette for the Winston Churchill Painting statue will be in the collection of King Charles III and another maquette will be permanently in the collection of No 10, Downing Street in 2024. In October 2024 marking the 150th anniversary year of Sir Winston’s birth, a life-size statue by Paul Rafferty will be unveiled in the grounds of Blenheim Palace.
Since 2004 Rafferty has exhibited in the U.S.A. - Florida, New York (Grenning Gallery and Huntington Arts Council), Boston, Houston and Santa Fe.