Smith, Steven P.
Biography
Born in Preston, Lancashire, in 1974 Steven grew up in a small village. He always loved to draw and paint and was encouraged by his family, particularly his Father who was a design engineer. He studied A Levels and then a Foundation in Art at Wigan & Leigh College before completing the first year of a BA Hons degree at Cleveland College of Art.
In 1995 Steven left university to become a full time artist, quickly gaining recognition for painting large scale scenic works. He traveled throughout the UK and Europe for companies such as Airtours, Sealife, Madame Tussaud’s and Museums such as the National History Museum. Major commissions included restoration to ceiling murals in the Blackpool Tower Ballroom and the painting of a 36 metre backdrop for the ‘War Horse’ exhibition at the National Army Museum.
Alongside this work Steven continued to paint portraits and figurative studies in his Studio and attended Norman Long’s tuesday night life painting sessions from 2012. His realist paintings and drawings became highly sought after in UK galleries. In 2016 Steven began painting with a group of plein air painters who have become affectionately known as The Northern Boys and has become increasingly passionate about painting outdoors from direct observation.
Working in oils, outdoors whenever possible and developing larger works from these paintings in the studio, Steven looks to capture what he sees in the everyday modern world around him. Using a contrasting colour palette he aims to capture the correct tonal values whilst pushing the colour to create paintings that are harmonious and expressive.
After a successful inaugural exhibition with The Northern Boys at Contemporary Six Gallery, Manchester in 2019, he is currently working towards a solo exhibition.
In 2018 Steven was pre-selected for the RA Summer Show and the 2019 RP exhibition at the Mall Galleries.
Winner of the People’s Choice award and 3rd prize overall at the Painting Padiham 2019 Plein Air Competition.
Steven was elected a new member of Manchester Academy of Fine Arts in 2019.
Instagram: @steven_p_smith
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Twitter: @stevenpsmith37