About Paul County
QUALIFICATIONS AND SKILLS SET
Paul County is a fifth generation Tasmanian photographer, story teller, historian, writer, publisher and educator. He completed a Diploma of Visual Art, a Bachelor of Fine Arts and Bachelor of Teaching degrees at the Tasmanian University in the 1990s and then went on to teach Visual Art (photography) and catering in Tasmanian Colleges. He is passionate about community art projects which tell a community’s story with collaboration and creativity. Paul also produces creative community-focused projects which include portraits, stories and books.
THE RAW AND THE COOKED - A TASMANIAN HOSPITALITY COMMUNITY EXHIBITION
In 2001, Paul exhibited at The Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery, The Raw and The Cooked, a series of photographic portraits of pioneering Tasmanian food identities. Many subjects were early immigrants to Tasmania and by profiling these individuals from diverse backgrounds, Paul showed that the hospitality industry is an exemplar of one where multiculturalism and difference can be applauded and celebrated and through passion, initiative and entrepreneurial skills how these pioneers changed Tasmania’s cultural and culinary landscape. The work offered an insider’s view into this community. This exhibition began Paul’s journey and fascination with community collaboration, photographic portraiture and publishing.
BOOK PUBLISHING
From his The Raw and The Cooked exhibition, Paul published his first book Before We Eat – a delicious slice of Tasmania’s culinary life for Tasmania’s bicentenary in 2004. He has gone on to publish 17 Tasmanian publications which have an educational and historical focus and are a gallery for his writing and portraits. All of these publishing experiences show Paul has had many successful experiences working and collaborating with designers and writers, industry, schools, councils and community organisations.
Recent work : DISCOVERING SOHO ART TRAIL 2024/5
The idea for the Discovering SoHo series came from conversations with locals where Paul lives in South Hobart. Sharing the 37 fascinating stories and portraits through an accessible Art Trail exhibition added to the community’s wellbeing and sense of identity. See the work here.