Step into Paul Fuentes’ world and the ordinary rarely stays that way for long. A fine art photographer who began as a graphic designer, Paul’s work transforms everyday objects and moments into crisp, pastel-hued scenes that surprise and delight and captures surreal travel photography in iconic, cinematic locations.

Since launching Paul Fuentes Design in 2015, he first became known for his minimal yet surreal pop mashups, creating playful, pastel-toned images that slip a twist of wit into the flow of your feed. “It was my goal to break your boring Instagram feed and bring a smile to your face,” he says. “I like to remind people how fascinating the world is.”

These days, his focus has mainly shifted toward fine art travel photography. A new body of work that blends surrealism with nostalgia, capturing dreamy locations from Californian pools to desert road trips, often featuring animals in unexpected ways. interrogating the world through the same surreal, pastel lens.

Working from his Camberwell studio at Cornerstone Studios, Paul creates multi-layer images with elements separated and then brought together to create one cohesive work of art.

Each piece invites the viewer to pause and reconsider the familiar. “A successful piece feels fresh but strangely familiar. If I catch myself smiling or questioning the logic of an image, that’s a good sign.”

Drawing from the bold simplicity of pop art, his visual world and the vibrant colours employed within it are reminiscent of his upbringing in Mexico, mixed with the clean lines of mid-century aesthetics. “Warhol taught me that everyday objects could carry surreal or humorous weight when reconceptualised. Growing up, I was surrounded by vibrant colours and a spirit of celebration. Later, Slim Aarons influenced how I frame luxury and leisure, while Wes Anderson’s symmetry and storytelling resonate in how I compose scenes.”

Having a photography studio in Camberwell has been transformative for Paul’s process. “I work together with my wife Ilse and for years, we operated out of our home studio, which blurred the lines between work and life. Now, working from Cornerstone Studios gives us a clear separation. That focus has changed the pace and ambition of what we can do.” From packing works to producing new content and preparing exhibitions, the larger studio has created space to think bigger. 

Equally important is the sense of community that defines this Camberwell studio. “Being surrounded by other artists and makers at Cornerstone has opened up new ways of thinking about our practice. There’s a creative momentum here that you just don’t get working in isolation.” Collaborations, like framing pieces with fellow resident Otto Framing, have already taken shape, and the courtyard, which his studio faces onto, has provided a real sense of community.

It’s an approach that feels true to Paul’s vision. To keep things fresh, to make people smile, and to remind us that the everyday can still hold the unexpected. All from the heart of a thriving photography studio Camberwell can call its own.