Eduardo Paolozzi was born of Italian parents in Leith, Edinburgh. He studied at St Martin's School of Art and at the Slade School of Fine Art before moving to Paris. Submerging himself in the thriving artistic community there, he mixed with artists such as Giacometti and came under the influence of Dadaism and Surrealism.

Paolozzi's work as a sculptor and print-maker is of major importance. It is based on his interest in the mass media, and in new developments in science and technology of the post-war era. He was also influenced by industrial techniques, making many of his early sculptures in aluminium, incorporating what appeared to be engine parts, brightly painted or finished in polished chrome. Human images that have mechanistic characteristics are his hallmark, as are the most complex scenarios in the mechanical fantasies he produces in three dimensions, collage, drawing and print. The Scottish Gallery of Modern Art holds a large collection of his work, including a recreation of his studio, at the Dean Gallery, Edinburgh.

In tandem with his artistic output, Paolozzi has also taught throughout his career holding senior positions at art schools in the UK, Europe and the United States. The winner of many awards and commissions, he was elected to the Royal Academy in 1979 and was knighted in 1988.