Paul Darrow worked in a variety of mediums including etching, photography, collage, and painting. His Modernist-leaning work reflects his interest in Eastern philosophy and a general Zen approach to living.

Darrow was born in Pasadena in 1921. After serving in World War II, he went to Claremont to study at the Claremont Graduate School and worked under Millard Sheets, Phil Dike, Phil Paradise and Milford Zornes. Darrow became a professor of art at Claremont Graduate School and then at Scripps College where he taught from 1954-1992. at Scripps, he was a popular professor teaching courses ranging from drawing to filmmaking to printmaking and mixed media. During his time, he regularly submitted (what would become thousands of) social and political cartoons to the Claremont Currier newspaper where he had a devoted fan base and also continued to produce his Modernist-leaning work.

In the 1970s Darrow relocated to Laguna Beach where he was inspired by the coastal environment, and enjoyed racing a Naples Sabot sailing dinghy. Darrow regularly exhibited throughout his career including at the International Watercolorist, Art Institute of Chicago (1932-1939); at the Philadelphia Watercolor Club (1938); at the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Art (1950,1954); at the California Watercolor Society (1953); and most recently at the Peter Blake Gallery, Laguna Beach.