Stephen T Shaw - Derry and Dublin

Irish artist Stephen T Shaw, Derry and Dublin

Artist Statement
My work is an exploration and an interpretation of rural and urban settings and is a search for beauty both natural and man-made. I hope when people see my work they will be encouraged to see beauty in everyday places in the city and aspects of their surroundings that they wouldn't normally pay attention to, be it people, landscapes, the urban, the suburban, the rural or just daily routines. I explore the ordinary and the everyday and I am inspired by the light, colour and mood of Irish landscapes and their ever-changing scenes. I like to paint what I know! Most of my work is an exploration of places I know well: the city streets of Derry and Dublin, or the rural and coastal areas of Inishowen and beyond.

I have been painting for a number of years on and off but only took it up seriously in 2015. My preferred medium is acrylic and my main body of work is rural and urban landscapes. I have impressionistic and at times expressionistic style of painting. My paintings vary in style depending on my mood, my experiences and the places I visit. I work a lot from photos that I have taken while I am out and about, and always have a small compact in my bag as well as my camera phone as you never know when something can pop up and give you an idea.

I grew up in the Prehen area of Derry which has the advantage of being both close to the city to the countryside. With forests, fields, rivers, streams and the city centre all within walking distance. These experiences helped garner my interest and exploration of both rural and urban landscapes. I learned the basics of painting in school and during my foundation art year but I am predominately a self-taught artist. I studied visual communication in Belfast and have worked for several years as a graphic designer in Dublin where I currently reside. I enjoy juggling a professional career in graphic design and painting most evenings and weekends.

If you have any inquiries about art sales, custom prints or commission paintings please feel free to get in touch!