Patterson Parkin was born in London in 1948. He attended the Warwick School of Art where he received his formative training in the study of art, specialising in drawing and painting.
In 1964, at age 16 he was the winner of the prestigious MacKenty Award for Fine Arts in London. In 1967 he attended the North East London Arts College where he studied Fractionalism.
In 1974 he immigrated to New Zealand.
Patterson has continued to pursue the variations of Fractionalism and has taken part on a yearly basis in solo and joint exhibitions throughout New Zealand. He has been the recipient of numerous awards and commissions. He has also exhibited in France, England and Australia.
His work is held in many private collections in New Zealand, Australia, United Kingdom and the USA.