Paul was born in England to a family that traces its roots back to the time of the Spanish Armada. His father was a Yorkshire sea captain, and his mother was an artist. Whilst still a boy his family moved to Kuwait, where he lived happily snorkeling, sailing, and exploring the ruins of Alexander the Great until the perfumes of Araby whispered to him to return to school in England. 

Paul’s family came to Vancouver Island in 1970, and he studied geography at the University of Victoria. Whilst still a student he learned to fly, and after graduating he pursued a career in aviation before returning to university to complete his doctorate.  Paul now divides his time between flying,  teaching, traveling, and serving as a faculty advisor in the International Studies Program at the University of Victoria. 

Paul has presented his academic research at conferences in Canada, the United States, and Europe, and has published in a variety of regional, national and international journals. He is the author of three books, and has contributed short stories and poems to a variety of literary magazines; more recently, his photography has been featured in several exhibitions. He likes to think his love of the arts comes from his mother, and his appetite for adventure springs from his father. He lives in the wilds of British Columbia.