Brought up in Springburn in the North of Glasgow,[1] Paterson attended Possilpark Secondary School, before building up his own business Gil's Motor Factors.

At the 2003 election, only three SNP MSPs were returned for Central Scotland and Paterson lost his seat in Parliament.

He returned to running his business but stayed active in the SNP, becoming the party's vice-convenor in charge of fundraising, a position he had held previously.

"[6] Paterson voted Remain in the June 2016 referendum on the United Kingdom's EU membership.

Mr Paterson is a supporter of free tuition fees in Scotland, and appeared in the Milngavie and Bearsden Herald in August 2017 asking for clarity from East Dunbartonshire MP Jo Swinson, a Liberal Democrat, about her stance following comments made by her party leader, Vince Cable, in The Press and Journal.