Paul Youll was born in Hartlepool, England on June 8, 1965. He was the younger of a set of identical twins with three older brothers. He and his twin brother, Stephen, were always fascinated by science fiction at the movies, in comic books, and on television.

After graduating from Sunderland University, Paul and Stephen spent many months painting samples to show to art agents in London. The work was well-received and both brothers were advised to show their art at the 1987 World Science Fiction Convention in six months. During this time, Paul and his twin were also employed at the famous Durham cathedral to paint portraits and illustrations of various artifacts for churches throughout the North of England. After work at the cathedral, they painted more samples; it was this first exhibition that got them their first book cover assignment, which was for Daniel Keyes Moran’s Emerald Eyes from Spectra. It was everything that Paul and Stephen been working toward.

Paul has worked for just about every publishing house in New York, painting covers for such famous authors as Isaac Asimov, Robert Silverberg, Anne McCaffery, Connie Willis, Ian McDonald, George Alec Effinger, Charles Sheffield, Stephen R. Donaldson, Timothy Zhan, Jack L. Chalker, George R. R. Martin, Fred Saberhagan, Mike Resnick, Larry Niven, Dave Wolverton and Katherine Kerr. Paul is also well known for his popular Star Wars X-Wing jackets and his Star Trek illustrations for the Bradford Exchange. His work has been exhibited in England and the United States.

Paul Youll lives in Esh Winning, a small village in the north of England with his wife, Annmarie, and their two cats, Fluffy and Smidgen.