Paula Sarlin

Early Years

She was born in 1971 for a Teacher mother and an Army Officer. Family lived in Central Finland. From an early age she spent her time drawing. She was a quiet and introverted child. Drawing helped her to express herself. She was different from others and was often been bullied at school by other students. She finally quit school at sixteen. Her mother enrolled her for local Modelling course and she did that and the end show which included a glamorous Catwalk show.

Helsinki Years

In the mid 80s she moved to Helsinki. She met some other young creative women. They spent time at The Backstage Club where young musicians such as The 69 Eyes and The Hirvi did hang out too. She met an Indian photographer who hired her for Glamour photograph sessions. Later she appeared in a movie Bent Dog directed by Mika Ritalahti.

London Years and The Arts

In the early 90s Paula and her creative female friends decided to move to London. She did he Art A levels in London.Soon after settling in Chiswick she joined as an extra for an outdoor concert event where she met Lee Barlow and Malcolm Boyle. They formed arty band Paradise Now. Their songs were mostly covers of the late 60s songs e.g. The Beatles, Syd Barrett and The United States of America. Cinematic, trippy nostalgic and atmospheric. In one of them Gary Ramon of Sundial played Mellotron and it was recorder at The Old Corn Exchange just next to Tower Bridge. One of the songs Sphere was recorded live at Hampstead Heath studios. During that time Paula had met Ben Etchells and often stayed at his apartment at Camden Lock where they experimented with ideas of songwriting. Occasional visitors were Ann Shenton who was the leading lady of Add N To X. She, Ann and her friend Alison Goldfrapp went to parties at The Garage in Islington. She also briefly collaborated with art act Minty live on stage.

During 1994 to 1995 she studied acting City & Islington College. Her characteristics landed her part in college production Scenes from Shakespeare in a role of Ophelia. She was also chosen to act Olga in Anton Chekov's Three Sisters. Those days Paula and her friends sometimes went to Prince Charles cinema in Soho and Theatre Bar. Early 1996 she fell seriously ill with pneumonia and was taken to the hospital. It took some time to recover after which she started to pracise Yoga.

In 1997 she has moved to Primrose Hill and shared a house with other people including a Brazilian chef. She had her own studio space to create her art. Paula was enrolled to Art and Fashion course. She began to develop her own and recognisable mixed media style in art.

At that time she had met a german Christina who was from Bavaria and they were friends and nearby neighbours.

She went to Creation record label's after parties around town and to La Scala and some Soho's Clubs for free. She had made friends who passed the queues. Eventually she met a Guy who was to direct Longpigs rock video Jesus Christ and she was cast in. It were the days when there was Smashing club nearby Regent Street and the people like Jarvis Cocker etc., were seen there. Later Paula appeared as live model for drawing students and as an actress for graduate student's project at The International Film School Covent Garden. There were also photoshoots with a norwegian photographer.

The Idler Magazine (Literature for Loafers) hosted parties regulary near Farringdon. In one occasion she was introduced to Marc Shearer who was a graduated lawyer but also a singer of the band Octopus and they became a couple. Paula joined the band's UK Tour and as they played London Astoria they were both dressed as hippies including 60s style fake fur leather jackets and flares and got video journalist chasing them around. After their split Paula studied at The London Institute in a flatshare with Jason Rodriques who worked for The Guardian newspaper. She made recordings of radio sounds and added beats with sound editing tools. Eventually she contributed with a second year sound student's movie and her sonic experimental production was synced for the film. The film and her sound was shown at NFT. She had games testing experience at the BBC with director John Ireland who was involved with Granada.

At that time Paula began to further develop herself as an artist and focused back in doing paintings. She had already had her work exhibited at the end of the year shows when still doing A Levels and College. And wanted to continue developing herself as visual artist. It's when she met Paul Simpson of Realise. He was young coder/animator and they clicked and moved in together in his Archway apartment.

2001 to present

After separating from Paul she visited The Arts Institute at Bournemouth and later returned there to do Arts Foundation. From there she went to Salisbury College and studied Arts. It was an ideal surrounding to be inspired by The Stonehenge and wonderful nature and spirit of the medieval town. After graduation at the Salisbury Cathedral she moved back to Finland.

Since then she has been creating arts and was involved with Texas based The Envision Artshow and was also featured in their printed magazine. She has had exhibitions in Helsinki, Malaga and currently on a New York based art platform.