After studying Architectural Technology at Ryerson Poytechnical Institute and working in the field of construction for 25 years, as a specialist in sales, marketing and public relations, Paul turned his attention to his first love, painting and photographing Canada’s wilderness areas.

Paul started painting, in 1966, during fall sketching trips in the Madawaska with his father, Joachim and a number of artists, including his brother, Edmond, A.J.Casson, Alan Collier, Anthony Law, Bruno Cavallo and others. Paul prefers the more rugged and remote areas of Canada, from Gros Morne Newfoundland, to the high Arctic Islands, to the western coastal and Rocky mountains, to Algonquin Park, Algoma, Georgian Bay and Haliburton/Muskoka.

In 1994, the Canadian Coast Guard, authorized a six week voyage, in Arctic waters, aboard the C.C.G.S. Henry Larsen icebreaker. Paul traveled the Labrador coast into Frobisher Bay and along the west coast of Greenland to Lancaster Sound, Strathcona Sound, while the Coast Guard was assisting and guiding shipping into various Arctic communities. Paul has traveled to the Arctic on five occasions, resulting in showing his works in galleries across Ontario. Expeditions on the Firth, Nahanni and Tatshenshini rivers, have made Gauthier more aware of the fragile ecology of these habitats and the great need to protect them from commercial encroachment.

Paul’s trip to Greenland, as Artist in residence, for Travel Dynamics New York, aboard the vessel Illiria, brought him in touch with various people from the scientific community. This experience intensified his awareness of endangered species and places.

A grant from the Royal Canadian Geographic Society, in 1987, along with logistical support from the Polar Continental Shelf Project, allowed Paul to travel and photograph the High Arctic Islands, for the purpose of reference material, resulting in a showing of Arctic paintings.

Paul was commissioned by the North Channel Preservation Society, in 1987, to produce a limited edition serigraph of one of A.J.Casson’s paintings of Baie Fine. Mr. Casson assisted Paul, in the artistic control of the print. Subsequently, the Ontario Heritage Foundation has enacted an historical brief to contain the site, named Casson Peak.

As technical advisor in 1989, for the film, “And There Were Seven”, produced by Conrad Beaubien of Beaver Creek Films, on the life of A.J.Casson and the Group of Seven; Paul gained an insight into film production which piqued his interest in furthering the adaptation of Art and Wilderness as a vehicle for public presentation.

In 1991, the Town of Markham honoured Paul, with the Town of Markham Achievement and Civic Recognition Award for Art and Cultural contribution to the community.

Paul has instructed workshops in Markham, Scarborough, Ottawa, and Madawaska and most recently along with RoseMarie Condon at the La Cloche Art Festival in July 2006. They will be the featured artists of the 29th La Cloche show. Paul’s and RoseMarie’s paintings will be on display. They will jury the paintings entered in the Festival www.geocities.com/laclocheartshow.

Paul’s oeuvre has been exhibited in numerous shows in Canadian cities. His pieces belong to corporate and private collections, including Manu-Life Centre, Nesbitt/Burns, Toronto Board of Trade, IBM Canada, Canadian General Electric, Merrill Lynch Co., Royal Canadian Geographical Society, Sears Chicago, Crown Life Insurance Co., Texaco, H.R.H. Prince Andrew and many others.

Paul is represented by, John A. Libby Fine Arts Toronto, Canada House Gallery Banff, Natures Scene Georgetown. He is an active member of the Arts & Letters Club Toronto and is a member of Worldwide Nature Artists Group at www.natureartists.com.