a custom sprayer
When we’re young, we often think of what we’d like to be when we’re older. Sometimes it pans out and other times it takes a different route. Here’s Pauls story and where he finds himself today.
Paul grew up in the South East of England where he spent most of his youth. He was schooled there and did the 6th form college A level thing there too. One of those A levels he showed more interest in than others was Geography. Whether that interest would lead him anywhere in the future he wasn’t sure at that stage in his life. Paul told me “I had no idea in terms of employment, I knew very much the lifestyle I wanted to live”
The “lifestyle” as Paul put it was fuelled by his childhood memories of the time spent in Cornwall during the school holidays as a kid. The beach, the coast and the love of all that surrounds that. Fond, fond memories. Those thoughts of our lovely land would never really leave Pauls mind.
Anyhow, he finished college with his A levels in hand, did some part time work thereafter as a bike mechanic for a short while but then fancied some travel. So, him and his girlfriend at the time and now wife I might add, travelled off to Australia and New Zealand for a few months. That time away clearly gave him some focus as to what he might do on the further education front. When he came back, he headed off to Uni to study Geography, still with his girlfriend in tow both doing the same course together. Love didn’t tear them apart then. That’s a “Joy Division” pun/link there if you get it…..
“I had no idea in terms of employment, I knew very much the lifestyle I wanted to live”
Once Paul finished his degree, he was off travelling again like most of us do before we return to our routes and seek full time employment. That first job for Paul was as a Geo Environmental Technician based in London. Three years of living and working in London was quite enough for Paul and his thoughts of Cornwall soon returned. So, he and his girlfriend made the move and left the South East for good. That was 15 years ago. The move here proved successful for Paul as soon after he landed himself a job as a Geo Environmental Engineer with Cornwall Council. That position for him would last him for over 13 years. However, after such a long period of time in the same job, he needed a change, as that job clearly wasn’t doing it for him. He then spent some time on line looking for other options that might incorporate his love of the outdoors and his love of bikes, an interest thats stayed with him for years
Two years on from there and Paul is now self employed as a custom sprayer working from home in his converted modified double garage. A place of work which he built himself. What’s more interesting about what Paul has done to find himself to where he is today, is the fact that he’s all self taught. No night college courses or formal qualification, just a huge amount of time on the web, watching videos, researching painting technics and reading up on all things paint related.
Pauls speciality in custom spraying are those of us who love the idea of having our bikes painted in a unique and special colour of our very own. Thanks Paul for allowing me to document what you now do for a living and please keep up the good work. RD
