Celia Paul's Bloomsbury Studio: A 44-Year Sanctuary for Introspective Painting

British painter Celia Paul has occupied the same Bloomsbury, London studio for 44 years, moving in at age 22 in 1982. Her spare, tidy home workspace features north-facing windows and minimal furnishings, aiding focus for her oil paintings. Paul describes an early morning routine, sometimes starting at 5 a.m., and values the solitude of her high-up flat, which overlooks plane trees and faces the British Museum. She notes the area was quieter decades ago, with fewer tourists affecting local museums like the National Gallery. The artist primarily works alone now, often alternating between self-portraits and seascapes, and cherishes the freedom Bloomsbury provides. A logistical challenge is the lack of an elevator for moving large canvases down 80 stairs.