Born Paul Ayshford in Corsham, Wiltshire. Studied painting under Sir Charles Holmes, later under Walter Sickert in Oxford. First solo exhibition at the Warren Gallery in 1928. Held many solo exhibitions at the Leicester Galleries and at Colnaghi's and showed at RA and NEAC. Elected RA in 1959. Retrospective exhibition in 1972 at the Royal West of England Academy and a memorial show at 1975 at Fieldbourne Galleries. Tate Gallery and Victoria & Albert Museum hold his work.