Paul Buten was born in Germany in the state of Bavaria and immigrated to Canada in 1970. From an early age on, Paul was introduced to the art world by regular visits to the great galleries in nearby Munich. With his father and two brothers, he shared a love for visual arts and all of them were avid painters.

Through regular workshops, Paul steadily increased his painting skills and techniques; his preferred medium is oil. For many years he concentrated on portrait painting but for the last few years he returned to painting landscapes, particularly local scenery of the North Shore.

Paul is a member of the North Vancouver Community Arts Council and some of his paintings are exhibited at the Bel Art Gallery in Edgemont Village, North Vancouver.