The exhibition called Removing Our Masks, by artist Paul Lloyd, is on display at the gallery upstairs at Upton Country Park from February 14 to 22, 2026.
The exhibition brings together a series of acrylic paintings showcasing Paul’s personal journey and invites visitors to reflect on “vulnerability, healing and the courage it takes to be seen as we truly are”.
Paul, 60, from Poole returned to painting at the age of 57 after what he describes as “a long silence” shaped by depression.
He said: “I started about 10 years ago and it’s sort of been lingering for years, but getting back into painting has really brought me back to myself again.
“I used to paint when I was a child and then stopped and life did its thing.
“A couple of years ago I just had this urge to start painting again and it all came from that really.”
Through acrylic painting, Paul said his work offers an honest and relatable look at mental health, aiming to encourage conversation, empathy, and connection within the community.
Each piece represents a distinct emotion and a step forward.
Paul said: “I’ve not really tried to dwell on the depression side of things.
“I’ve tried to show how I transformed out of it rather than sitting in it.
“Each painting is a stage I’ve been through to move forward.”
Paul said that his series Removing Our Masks is both personal and universal.
He said: “It asks: Who am I, really, when I stop pretending? And it dares you to ask the same.”
While deeply personal, he hopes the collection will resonate with others who may have faced similar struggles but rarely speak about them.
He said: “Much of my work is rooted in my own experience of depression.
“Feeling lost, disconnected, or buried under roles that didn’t fit. Painting helped me come back to myself.
“It gave me a place to feel what I feel, without apology.”
