P. Gopinath was born in Ponnani, Kerala, in 1948. He received a first-class diploma in painting from the Government College of Arts and Crafts, Madras, in 1970.
Between 1978 and 1990, he participated in a number of graphic workshops in New Delhi, Chennai, and Kerala, including one at London's Royal College of Art. Since 1967 he has exhibited at many major venues throughout India and regularly receives awards for his work.
His work is held in a number of individual and corporate collections in India and abroad.