Paul van der Ven took a course from the Kunstoefening society in Arnhem to become a drawing instructor and subsequently evolved as an artist on his own. His oeuvre mainly comprises cityscapes and landscapes with an emphasis on capturing the seasons and play of light. One could call him a mood painter. He combined this impressionistic approach to his subject with a realistic painting style related to the Nieuwe Zakelijkheid, which at times produces a weird and wonderful contrast.