Pat is a graduate of the American Academy of Art and began his professional career as a graphic artist, moving from his first job as an illustrator for the Yellow Pages to joining various advertising agencies and eventually opening his own business, Collins Advertising Arts. Upon retirement from his business, he returned to his first love, painting, and gravitated towards watercolors, which he enjoyed as a young artist. He finds working in that medium fresh, spontaneous and lively. Recently, he has combined another passion of his, baseball, into his art. He enjoys painting scenes recalled from his youth on the sandlot diamonds and also capturing big league action scenes. As a young man, Pat had dreams of becoming a major leaguer, but the curve ball came along. When his dad asked him what his second favorite activity was, he realized it was art. When he married and became a father, his children would often ask if he was going to work and his response would always be, "No, I'm going to fun."

Since renewing his painting, Pat has participated in several shows, including two juried shows at the College of Lake County Robert T. Wright Community Gallery of Art in Grayslake. He was also featured in several shows at the Warren Newport Library in Gurnee, was included in annual exhibits at the Scholl Gallery located at the Chicago Medical School in North Chicago, IL and the Norris Gallery "Watercolor '06", 07, 08 and 09 in St. Charles, IL. In 2008 Pat also appeared in two shows at The Art Center in Highland Park, IL and in 2009, the 33rd Annual Beverly Arts Center show in Chicago, IL. He has also taken part in numerous exhibits sponsored by the Lakes Region Watercolor Guild (LRWG), of which he is a member.