ABOUT THE ART: SSF 2026
PAUL MCNEIL
The 2nd Annual Sessions Surf Festival on the Gold Coast is almost here and in the spirit of all things art, surf, and culture, we wanted to spotlight this year's artist: Paul McNeil. In our chat with Paul, we dove into his creative inspirations, his artistic process and how he takes things slow.
ABOUT THE ART
Solento: Paul, tell us a little about yourself. Where are you from, where are you now, and how do you spend your days?
Paul: My name is Paul McNeil and I was born in lovely New Zealand but I have spent most of my life in lovely Australia. This summer I’m back in NZ digging the serenity.
Solento: Your work has come to be a staple of the surf landscape and community, how would you say that came to be?
Paul: Well as a kid my whole life was skateboarding and non-team things. Surfing is of course one of those. I learned from artists I admire to work with the things around you and its fair to say that surfing is around me (in fact I’m obsessed with it!) Plus living in one of the great surf towns (Byron Bay) really helps. I’m completely surrounded by the culture and the history. It’s incredible.
Solento: Can you explain a little about your style and what the inspirations were that helped shape your art?
Paul: I guess my style is ‘Pop art’ hopefully in the original meaning of the term “Popular”. I really like the idea of art for everyone. Simple things reproduced a lot. Tee shirts with art, walls with art.. everything with art on it. We need more colour and art in this world. I was always attracted to simple images especially if they had something to say. I try to say something with the least possible work! Ha, basic and deep.
Solento: Can you tell us a little about what your process looked like when you started to dive into the SSF design?
Paul: Knowing the organisers of this event well I immediately jumped to the thing we have in common. The ocean! And those lumps of water that our lives are based around... It was a no-brainer really. The typography I was created from my love of vintage surf imagery and logos. Things were pretty neat before computers.
Solento: Life gets pretty busy sometimes, where do you find your 'slow'?
Paul: Busy is good but my “slow” is sitting out the back waiting for that freak set (or even a tiny close-out). It’s also when I put on a record or discover a new song.
Paul: Art wise... Hmmm, I love most of the things I create and there’s a lot so I won’t bore you! Painting on bridges and walls is pretty exciting at my age. I’ve published some kids books (that I should promote more!) My friends and I have a pub near Byron Bay (The ELTHAM) which is one of the coolest things in my world. Art and surfing, surfing and art.
Solento: What are some other recent pieces you are proud of and want to share?
Come see PAUL McNEIL’s art (AND OTHER WORKS) at the SESSIONS ART EXHIBIT ON TUESDAY, 26TH MAY AT HOME OF THE ARTS, SURFERS PARADISE.
