Artist Paul Emsley was born in Glasgow in 1947 and moved to South Africa in 1969.  He attended classes in Art & Design at Cape Technical College.  From 1983 – 1995 Emsley taught drawing at the Department of Creative Arts, at the University of Stellenbosch.  In 1996, he moved to England.
“I have always loved drawing. The dryness of the paper and the chalk demand precision and exactness. It quickly exposes one’s weaknesses and mistakes, leaving no room for cleverness or tricks. In my drawings, I try to emphasize the singularity and silence of the form. By a careful balancing of tones, I emphasise the way in which light and shade fall across the subject. By creating a settled half-light, I try to transform the existence of the object from the ordinary to something more profound.” Paul Emsley
paul emsley

Artist Paul Emsly Rhino

Master of Light & Shadow│Paul Emsley 1
© Paul Emsley Gorilla. Chalk drawing. 102 x 99 cm.
Master of Light & Shadow│Paul Emsley 3
© Paul Emsley Elephant. Chalk drawing. 98 x 137 cm.
Master of Light & Shadow│Paul Emsley 5
© Paul Emsley Nelson Mandela. Black chalk and pencil drawing. 117 x 88.5 cm.
Master of Light & Shadow│Paul Emsley 7
© Paul Emsley White Rhinoceros. Black chalk and pencil drawing. 194 x 105 cm
Master of Light & Shadow│Paul Emsley 9
© Paul Emsley Wolf. Chalk drawing. 55.7 x 75.2 cm
Master of Light & Shadow│Paul Emsley 11
© Paul Emsley – The Poet’s Garden. Black chalk and pencil drawing. 92 x 131.5 cm
Master of Light & Shadow│Paul Emsley 13
© Paul Emsley – The Legend of the Willow. Black chalk and pencil drawing. 62 x 90.5 cm
Master of Light & Shadow│Paul Emsley 15
© Paul Emsley – Reclining Figure. Chalk drawing
Master of Light & Shadow│Paul Emsley 17
© Paul Emsley William Kentridge, Black chalk and pencil drawing 91.5 x 105.5cm
Master of Light & Shadow│Paul Emsley 19
© Paul Emsley Recollection. Black chalk and pencil drawing. 98.5 x 63.5 cm.
Master of Light & Shadow│Paul Emsley 21
© Paul Emsley Cari. Black chalk and pencil drawing. 110.5 cm x 85 cm
Master of Light & Shadow│Paul Emsley 23
© Paul Emsley Self Portrait. Black chalk and pencil drawing. 60 x 51 cm

Public collections

National Portrait Gallery. London.

British Museum.

South African National Gallery.

Johannesburg Art Gallery.

University of the Witwatersrand.

University of Stellenbosch.

University of the Orange Free State.

William Humphreys Art Gallery, Kimberley.

Sasol Collection.

Sanlam Collection.

Northwestern University, Chicago.

Exhibitions (partial list)

2012

Woordfees Artist 2012, Retrospective Exhibition, Sasol Art Museum, Stellenbosch

2011

Solo Exhibition, Redfern Gallery

Masterpiece London

Joburg Art Fair

2010

Joburg Art Fair

Masterpiece London

Art London

London Art Fair

2009

London Art Fair.

Art London.

Johannesburg art Fair.

Royal Academy Summer Exhibition.

2008

Royal Academy Summer Exhibition

Victoria Gallery Bath, Exhibition of BP Award Portrait.

Art London

Art Palm Beach

London Art Fair

AWARDS – http://paulemsley.com/cv/awards/

Paul Emsley

http://www.brundyngonsalves.com/artists/paul-emsley/