Originating from Kerala, India, Celia Paul was raised in a religious community in England under the influence of her father, a pastor and theologian. She turned to drawing at a young age as a means to escape her strict upbringing. Paul’s passion for art strengthened, even after overcoming a serious illness during her childhood, an event her family deemed miraculous.

In Bideford, during her boarding school years, Paul collected found objects from nature, assembling them into still lifes. There, she also formed a decisive friendship that encouraged her to take painting more seriously and solidify her artistic path. Her talent led her to the Slade School of Fine Art in London, where she met Lucian Freud in 1978. She quickly became his lover, companion, and muse. This relationship, marked by a significant age difference and complex dynamics, profoundly influenced her life and work. The tension of this connection is evident in her portraits, where intimacy and confrontation shine through.

After her separation from Freud, Paul dedicated herself to a more solitary life, focusing her energy on her son and her painting. Her art, renowned for its ability to capture psychological and emotional depth, often centers on intimate subjects, particularly her mother, illustrating the complexity of their relationship.