Born in SW Virginia, Paul Staples began studying commercial art at a young age but soon fled to fine art, finding inspiration in the works of De Chirico, Matta, and Klee, and others. He attended VA Tech where he received his BA in Art. Later relocating to the west coast, Paul worked in a Seattle studio for several years and pursued abstract painting which he has continued as a freelance artist since, having shown in various venues including The Kairos Gallery. His artistic goals have been to evoke a sense of the mysterious beauty beneath the surface of things and create high visual impact with vibrant ambience. His primary media are oil sticks, tape, and stencil.

Paul has always been intrigued with folk/naïve art, as well as distressed craftwork. Recently Paul began making his Christmas trees in a similar style, and they caught on so fast that he began devoting a significant part of his studio time making them. His deep appreciation for folk art and interest in translucency and capturing the effects of time have all informed his signature trees.