HENI is delighted to release Liquid Layers, a collection of paintings and never before seen works on paper by celebrated British painter, Paul Kenton.
The release features two series: Indian Paper Works, a new series consisting of 129 ink and watercolour works on handmade Indian paper, and Studio Works, 31 mixed media paintings created between 2023 and 2025, showcasing Kenton's signature style.
The paintings are available by application until 17:00 BST on 28 August 2025.
Paul Kenton's work encompasses both the urban and the natural worlds, capturing bustling cityscapes and street views alongside serene landscapes, mountain views, and lily ponds. The artist is famous for creating works built up through layers of paint, inviting viewers to connect with both the finished piece and the creative process.
Ranging from the fleeting moments captured in Indian Paper Works to the vibrant cityscapes of Studio Works, these works showcase Kenton’s versatility. Each expressive painting focuses on light, atmosphere, and reflection.
Indian Paper Works features ink and watercolour paintings on handmade Indian paper, ranging from monochromatic to colourful. The works come in various dimensions, and each artwork is signed on the front by the artist. They focus on cityscapes, rendering detailed observations of streets and architectures through impressionistic, flowing lines. Indian Paper Works is made up of delicate washes of paint layered through quick, spontaneous brushstrokes. This technique enhances their emotional impact and adds depth and movement to the compositions. Each piece is presented in a floating frame that highlights the natural, raw edges of the paper.
Studio Works features iconic cityscapes of metropolises such as New York and London, seen from sweeping aerial views and immersive street-level perspectives. Kenton brings these scenes to life with bold colour contrasts, capturing the vibrant energy of a street alongside the landmarks of a skyline. In other works, lily ponds and landscapes evoke the tranquillity of nature. In contrast to Indian Paper Works, which purely relies on brushstrokes, these paintings emerge from tactile textures of paint manipulated with tools like brushes and spatulas. The works come in various dimensions, and each artwork is signed by the artist.
Born in Derby in 1968 and raised from the age of eight in North Devon, Paul Kenton's artistic development was profoundly shaped by the region’s coastal beauty. A precocious talent, he declared his intention to become an artist while still at school, a vision later affirmed by winning a national colouring competition at age twelve. It was during this formative period that Kenton also developed a lifelong passion for the sea and surfing, motifs that would later inform both his creative energy and subject matter.
Working from his studio in North Devon, Kenton embraces the freedom of experimentation, avoiding strict adherence to any one medium. His focus is less on precise representation and more on atmosphere and emotional resonance, guided always by an obsession with light, whether refracted through glass and steel or shimmering across ocean surfaces.
In 2012, Kenton was commissioned to produce three large-scale paintings for the London Olympic Games, and his participation in the interactive public art display The Big Egg Hunt further cemented his status as one of Britain’s most celebrated contemporary painters. Kenton’s art is collected globally and has been exhibited at over thirty leading UK galleries, with the artist also engaging a new generation of admirers through his popular social media presence.
"I incorporate abstract elements within the pieces, using unconventional tools to create unexpected and expressive marks. While detail can be difficult to achieve, it’s essential for maintaining a sense of looseness in the work."
- Paul Kenton
The paintings are on display at HENI Gallery for the duration of the drop. Admission to the gallery is free, with no appointment required. Click here to learn more about the exhibition.
HENI Gallery
6-10 Lexington St, London W1F 0LB
Opening hours: 7–10 August, Monday to Sunday, 10am–6pm
11–28 August, Monday to Friday, 10am–6pm