Paul Hill began his professional career as a reporter in Shropshire in 1959 but made the switch from words to pictures in 1965. He became an award-winning freelance photojournalist working regularly for The Guardian, The Observer, Telegraph Magazine, Radio Times, Mirror Newspapers, amongst others.

But Paul’s interest in photography wasn’t limited to photojournalism, and since 1973 he has spent a lifetime teaching and working towards establishing photography as an art form in Britain.

Some of the highlights along the way include:

• In 1976 he became the leader the first photography diploma course that treated the medium as a stand-alone art form
• In 1976 he also set up the first photography workshop in Britain
• In 1982 he wrote the first British book solely addressing the ideas behind photographs
• In 1991 he helped establish the first photography festival in the UK (now known as FORMAT)
• In 1994 he was the first photography teacher to be awarded an MBE
• In 1995 he became the first professor of photographic practice in the country

Paul’s work is housed in museums and collections throughout the world, and he is a successful author, magazine columnist, curator, arts advisor, and educationalist.