I think we live in a country that is based around humour, from the grimmest of situations where each moment was a bit of a chore there is always a lighter take to an often dull and difficult life. Seems a little heavy you might say but as I was trekking round my regional gallery I noticed some of the work by Paul Horton.

The way I would put into context the feel of Paul Horton’s work is that of the straight man in a farse, that poised moment ahead of the chuckle. Described by many as a present day Lowry, his work shines through, taking pretty grim settings and turning them into something homely and peaceful.

Paul Horton developed at Bournville school of Art where he studied drawing and painting, he then went into the printing industry, until in 1997 he went full time with his artwork, putting all of his efforts into the thing that gave him a great deal of pleasure. A long journey from the boy brought on by his art’s teacher to one practicing his artwork to such a large degree.

Paul Horton’s work just draws you in with its peaceful colours and sedate “action” scenes letting you feel at ease while you, absorb the many aspects of the picture often full of pathos and symbolism. Paul Horton likes to think of his art as revealing the gateway for people to enter his world of imagination and make of it what they will. I think it reaches this but also leaves you wanting to see another view from his grimly optimistic cityscape.