Artist Research - Paul Wright

Paul Wright is a Fairground decorator best known for his airbrush artwork that can be seen on many the rides travelling around the UK. Wright's first pieces in the 80's weren't airbrushed instead being brush painted in very bright colours with portraits of celebrities of the time. A great example of this is on his first paint job of Albert Evans Waltzer 'Atmosphere Creator' which was brilliant pink with huge murals of popular musicians of the time such as Kiss and Adam Ant. His more recent work is drastically different such as the second paint job of Atmosphere Creator from 1994 which is adorned in airbrushed portraits of popular sci-fi characters. The work is so detailed and well done you could easily mistake some of the work for printed vinyl graphics. It is notable that Wright focuses much more on sci-fi style designs than miami beach scenes with hot girls and bright colours popular with many ride operators.

A well known piece by Wright, The Hulk on one of the cars off Atmosphere Creator

Wrights work portrays popular interests of the time and the way that his style and subject has changed over time demonstrates how good he is at his chosen art form to stay in vogue throughout his career. 

His pieces start of as a sketch often influenced by the ride owner and images from comic books and magazines. This is then drawn up to scale on large sheets of paper before being transferred using blue chalk in a pounce bag to the rides boards. The airbrushing then begins building up the different layers of colour creating shadows and details before adding effects such as day-glo powder which makes certain areas glow in the dark bringing the ride to life. Most of Wrights work is done in Enamel paints thinned down, due to the use of thinners and Wrights health he has now retired from airbrushing and creates vinyl designs for round stalls and small rides in a style similar to Fred Fowle's work.