Paul Verral

paulverrall.com
613-645-2120

Paul studied design, drawing and sculpting at Dr. Arthur Lismer’s art school at the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts, winning an award for sculpting. Dr. Lismer also taught his father many years previously.

Paul enjoyed a long career as a Graphic Designer and Illustrator while raising a family. Paul credits his wife Donna for rekindling his love of stone sculpting when she gave him a piece of soapstone in 2007. He hasn’t stopped since.

Paul carves stone from around the world, including soapstone, serpentine and chlorite from Quebec, Brazil and India, alabaster from the US, Italy and China and Wonderstone (pyrophyllite) from Africa.

Usually, the shape of the rough stone provides inspiration – Inuit carvers believe the finished piece is in the stone, and that it will reveal itself.

Paul uses various saws to begin with, then chisels and rasps to roughly shape the stone. He then uses a rotary tools and files to finesse the piece and finishes by sanding and waxing.

Paul and his wife and have always loved The County and moved here in 2017 to enjoy their retirement and to join the thriving arts community. Paul’s Studio and Gallery is located at 42 Washburn Street in Picton, open year-round by chance or by appointment.

Paul has been a member of the PEC Studio Tour since 2018.

He was honoured to receive a Jurors’ Choice Award at the Art in the County exhibition in 2022 for his sculpture Snowy Owl on the Prowl and in 2023 was awarded and Honourable mention for Mother Bear. In 2025 he was awarded the Children’s Choice Award for his sculpture Swimming Polar Bear.