Paul started work in films working as an assistant director to the likes of George Lucas, Nicolas Roeg, Franco Zeffirelli, Michael Apted, Nicholas Hytner from the sci-fi Star Wars to the acclaimed The Madness of King George. After studying at RADA he was the founding Artistic Director of the award-winning Theatre 503 in London, a theatre for new writing and has worked as an Associate and Assistant Director in London's West End, RSC and Chichester Festival Theatre.

Since working in opera, he has worked as Revival and Assistant Director on many famous productions for ROH, ENO and Glyndebourne, Teatro Dell'Opera di Roma and the Saito Kinen Festival in Japan and has directed Carmen for Dorset Opera, Cosi fan tutte for English Touring Opera, Il barbiere di silviglia for Diva Opera and Madama Butterfly for Opera Holland Park.