Elliott Paul Emsley was born in Glasgow Scotland in 1947. His parents emigrated to South Africa in 1949. He was educated at Rondebosch Boy’s School. After obtaining a diploma in Art and Design from the then Cape Technical College he worked in advertising, eventually becoming Creative Director of BBDO International Cape Town. He then worked as a freelance illustrator and began educating himself as a painter. He taught drawing and painting at the Department of Creative Arts, Stellenbosch University from 1983 until 1995. in 1992 he joined the Redfern Gallery, London. In 1996 he gave up teaching and moved to England. He has worked and exhibited previously as Paul Emsley. Since 2019 he has been developing a different side to his work, one which he felt compelled to express.