Paul Davies has been a wargamer – or as his long-suffering wife prefers to say, has been ‘messing around with toy soldiers and all that malarkey’ – for more years than he cares to admit or chooses to remember. Suffice to say that when Airfix released their Guards colour party plastic figures, he was at the front of the queue outside his local toyshop. The wargaming possibilities of this set were somewhat limited, and suitable plastic opponents non-existent, but as soon as the British infantry combat group were released, followed by German infantry, he never looked back; he still harbours an affection for soft plastic even though that view seems to be tantamount to heresy in some quarters.
Allegedly, the hobby has kept him relatively sane, and he has been a regular contributor to Wargames Illustrated since 2006, and in 2008 wrote the first of a regular series of ‘How to…’ articles aimed at showing wargamers of different skill levels how to construct their own buildings and terrain features. In addition to his magazine work, he also undertakes private commissions for individual wargamers and clubs, winning numerous awards, including in 2008 the Best Terrain award at Salute for his 1/300th scale interpretation of the Battle of the Alma!
Paul lives with his wife and son in Minehead in Somerset where he continues to wargame at his local club, design and construct buildings and terrain, write magazine articles and reviews, and no doubt, if asked, further books.