Paul lives and works in West Cornwall. His work is far from 'formulaic', which is sometimes associated with Cornish contemporary painters. He has a strong sense of style, allied with a 'very real' investigation into the issues of contemporary painting. It is no wonder that Wadsworth has quickly gained a reputation as one of Cornwalls leading young artists. The new work presented in this show has been eagerly awaited and represents the arrival of a painter with influences as diverse as the landscapes of Cornwall , alchemy and the barren deserts of Dubai. Largely devoid of colour, the linear quality to the works conception is echoed by the works surface, 'an etched face', the viewer is reminded of the ancient world. This work goes beyond romance, beyond mystery, but settles somewhere in the shared consciousness of genuine feeling.

Over the last few years my work has been about exploring the surface and space within the painting through the use of mixed media. The paintings have become constructions on canvas or paper, experimenting with materials that might work, taking away or adding to using a combination of paint, plaster, pigments, and collage.

The use of gold has been a continual interest in conjunction with recent trips and shows in the Arab emirates. Travel is an important influence on my work, the desert landscape, its unforgiving but beautiful landscape, its solitude and space. It compares well with the space you can find in Cornwall, which has become my home and area of continual inspiration.

Exploration into surface quality has led me back into using oils in the past year. The pure physicality of the paint allows for a different relationship to the canvas and subject. The marks made by a knife, brush or hands become embedded into the paint leaving the surface a certain history, speed and time. I use colour sparingly as I want the surface and composition to be as uncomplicated as possible, every mark, tone and colour having its place in space.