A retrospective exhibition celebrating the life and work of much-loved Swindon artist Paul Exton is set to open this month as part of the Swindon Arts Festival.
Titled Where Colour Remains, the exhibition will showcase decades of Exton’s work and offer visitors the chance to explore the creative journey of an artist whose colourful and distinctive style became a familiar part of Swindon’s cultural landscape.
The exhibition will be held at The Post Modern in Theatre Square, with an opening event on 13 June before opening to the public from 15 to 28 June.
Born and raised in Swindon, Paul Exton became known for his vibrant geometric artworks, large-scale murals and commitment to community-focused public art projects. His work can still be seen across the town, including murals on Fleming Way, near the Mechanics’ Institute and the striking Future Concepts installation at Carfax Close.
Over the years, he became a respected figure within Swindon’s arts community and played a key role in shaping the town’s contemporary arts scene.
Exton was one of the founding members of Artsite, the independent arts organisation and studio collective based in Theatre Square. Through Artsite, he regularly exhibited his work, collaborated with fellow artists and helped support creative opportunities for others.
His death in November 2025, following a short battle with liver cancer, was met with sadness across Swindon’s artistic community and beyond.
Even during his illness, friends and family say his passion for art never diminished.
While receiving treatment, he continued to curate exhibitions remotely through video calls and remained determined to paint whenever possible, often working from his hospital bed. Inspired by the example of Mexican artist Frida Kahlo, who famously continued creating despite serious illness, Exton remained committed to his work until the very end.
The forthcoming exhibition will feature pieces spanning his artistic career, from work created during his art college years through to more recent paintings and projects.
Family members sorting through his studio and garage following his death discovered numerous artworks that had never previously been publicly displayed, many of which will now be shown for the first time.
Speaking ahead of the exhibition, Paul’s daughter Petra said the event would provide an opportunity for residents to reconnect with an artist who cared deeply about his hometown.
She said: “Dad loved his art and being part of the artistic community. He came to it quite late and finished art college at 50 but he definitely caught up for lost time.
“We discovered lots of his artwork in his garage and studio, art we had never seen before and we are so pleased to be able to share his work with the people of Swindon in this retrospective.”
Visitors will also have the opportunity to purchase selected works from the exhibition. Proceeds from sales will be shared between Artsite and Prospect Hospice, where Exton received care during the final stages of his illness.
The exhibition comes as Paul’s son-in-law, comedian and television personality Joe Wilkinson, prepares to host a charity comedy event at the Wyvern Theatre in aid of Prospect Hospice.
For many in Swindon, Where Colour Remains will be more than an art exhibition. It will be an opportunity to celebrate a creative life that helped shape the town’s cultural identity, honour a respected artist and ensure that the colour, energy and imagination that defined Paul Exton’s work continue to inspire future generations.
