Stephen Collett
Stephen Collett lives and works in Liverpool. He gained a degree in architecture which has played a big part of his career as a professional artist. Stephen has travelled throughout the major cities of Europe, New York and Shanghai. With this visual observation, he is able to capture the cultural sights and landmarks which he portrays onto canvas. Stephen’s use of light draws the viewer into the composition, choosing to paint architectural studies at dusk or dawn gives his works an alluring ambience and atmosphere. Stephen is represented by leading UK art galleries and has exhibited his works in London, Paris and New York.
“My paintings are a reflection of my experiences of a place, they derive from many fond memories as well as from my sketchbook. This gives me the freedom to play with light and colour hinting at a personal idealism within them.”
In 2014 he started exclusively working with a large gallery network and as a result of which, has his work included in many private and corporate collections all over the country and across the USA.
Stephen has been a keen artist since he sold his first painting at the age of 5. His early life was spent dragging his parents around Art galleries, avidly pursuing a passion which would one day drive a prolific and exciting career. At the age of 7, whilst his friends were building snowmen, Stephen adorned his parents’ garden with a snow Venus de Milo and a snow David.
Aged 18, he moved from his childhood home in Suffolk to Liverpool where he studied Architecture; later he took a year out to travel and paint, a sabbatical from which, he jests, he has yet to return.
Stephen’s early career in the post-university years were largely spent exhibiting his work in Liverpool, London, Paris, Berlin and later in 2007 he had his first Solo Show in New York. He travelled much and would often spend weeks at a time in Venice or Florence, sketchbook in hand, drinking in the culture.
Stephen’s work combines his great love of architecture with his passion for travel. Preferring to sketch his scenes in situ over many days, he is able to create complex cityscapes in oil, his preferred medium, back in his studio with both accuracy and flare.