CAR DESIGN

I knew I wanted to be a car designer from a young age and worked tirelessly until that dream became a reality.

I’ve been obsessed with cars my whole life. As a boy I would never have believed that I would end up designing some of the most seminal supercars in history, but here we are!

Paul left McLaren in 2020 but during an 11 year career there was the lead designer on several key products, including the exterior of P1, P1 GTR, 720S exterior, the 570S interior and was the Senior Design Manager on the McLaren Artura. Since then he has penned the P1 Spider for Lanzante Ltd and the European GT restomod for Thornley Kelham

In March 2009 I started my career at McLaren Automotive. Soon after joining, my exterior theme was selected for the P1. Alongside Rob Melville and a team of incredible people we shaped the design language of McLaren Automotive.

I initially studied at Northumbria University in Newcastle-upon-Tyne under the legend of John Sweeney. This not only gave me my foundations in creative thinking and innovation, but also taught me resilience and helped develop my hard working attitude. I then completed an MA in Vehicle Design at the Royal College of Art in London. This allowed me to build on my innovative thinking but more importantly opened my eyes to so many different influences both in the wider College and on my internship in Tokyo for Toyota Advanced Design.

I am enjoying focusing back on the essence of how my story all started and that is with drawing cars for the sheer fun of it!

THIS IS ME

Automotive Artist

Designer of Mclarens

Freelance Designer

OVER A Decade AT MCLAREN... AND BEYOND

After studying at the Royal College of Art in London, I started my career at McLaren Automotive. Soon after joining, my exterior theme was chosen for the P1 and under Rob Melville, I led the exterior design of the group breaking car. It was such a unique opportunity to shape the Design DNA for effectively a start up company. The 12C had just been launched to a luke-warm reception design-wise and it was our task to fix this with the P1. This then set the mould and tone for what developed into the McLaren Design pillars of ‘Breathtaking products that tell the Visual Story of their Function’ and ‘Everything for a Reason’. The fluid, organic form language we developed, was very much inspired by marine life, Formula 1 cars and also the beautiful cars of the past.

Having been instrumental in several key products for the company, including the P1, P1 GTR, 570S, 720S and Artura, I left in 2020 and have since designed the P1 Spider for Dean Lanzante and, at the other end of the automotive spectrum, the European GT for Thornley Kelham. An entirely new body for their XK140 based restomod with more muscular form to the body and over 2 inches chopped from the roof.