Patrick was born in 1956 and educated at Eton, in Florence and at Chelsea Art School. He worked in fashion before a chance meeting with the sister of Sebastian Walker (founder of Walker Books) introduced him to the world of children's publishing.

Patrick has illustrated some of the greatest authors of children's books including Roald Dahl, Michael Morpurgo, Mal Peet and Martin Waddell. He also illustrated Fly Fishing by J. R. Hartley, from the well-known television commercial. Patrick lives and works on his farm in Scotland.