STEVEN P SMITH MAFA - BIOGRAPHY

I was born in Preston, Lancashire, in 1974 and I grew up in a small village close to where I still live with my family today in Charnock Richard. I 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 I left university to become a full time artist, quickly gaining recognition for painting large scale scenic works. I travelled throughout the UK and Europe completing major commissions for Madame Tussaud's, Sea Life, Blackpool Tower and Museums such as the Natural History Museum. These 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 I continued to paint portraits and still life studies in the Studio. 

 

In 2016 I began painting with a group of Plein Air painters who have become affecionately known as the Northernboys and I became increasingly passionate about painting outdoors from direct observation. We travel annually to paint in  London, Venice & Seville as well as meeting up regularly to paint in other towns & cities throughout europe.

Working outdoors whenever possible and occassionally developing larger works from these paintings in the studio, I look to capture what I see in the everyday modern world around me working in all weather conditions. I also has a passion for still life painting, capturing everyday objects and nostagic items that he has collected throughout his life. All works are in oils on either panels or canvas. In 2023 I had a major solo exhibition at The Museum of Brands, Notting Hill, London which featured original still life oil paintings of items found in the Museum's collection.

 

After a successful inaugeral exhibition with the Northernboys at Contemporary Six Gallery, Manchester in 2019, and two group exhibitions with the Northernboys at Windermere Fine Art Gallery in 2020 & 2021 we had our first major London Exhibition of plein air paintings at Panter & Hall, Pall Mall in spring 2024. 

 

Recently I have exhibited in the Royal Institute of Oil Painters Annual Exhibition in 2021, 2022 and 2023 and with the Royal Society of Marine Artists in 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024 at the Mall Galleries, London.

 

I was elected a Member of Manchester Academy of Fine Arts (MAFA) in 2019 and a MAFA Council Member in 2021. I exhibits regularly with them in Galleries throughout the UK.

 

In 2023 my painting 'Lemons' was selected for the New Light Prize Tour and will be exhibited in The Williamson Art Gallery, Birkenhead, The Bankside Gallery, London, Rheged Arts Centre, Penrith, The Biscuit Factory, Newcastle and The Mercer Gallery, Harrogate throughout 2024.

 

In 2024 I have made several painting trips to North America in preparation for a future solo exhibition. I have painted in New York, Conneticut and Boston with future trip to Ottowa and possibly San Francisco plaaned for later in the year.

 

Winner of the Preston Portrait Challenge 2019 and awarded 2nd place in 2022 at the Harris Museum & Gallery, Preston.

 

Winner of the People's Choice award and 3rd prize overall at the Painting Padiham 2019 Plein Air Competition.

 

I was Pre-selected for the RA Summer Show 2019 

Exhibitions 2024

 

'New Light Prize Tour Exhibition'                                               Bank Side Gallery, Southbank, 48 Hopton St. London. SE1 9JB

27th February - 3rd March 2024

 

'The Northern Boys Exhibition'                                                  Panter & Hall, Pall Mall, London.

Spring 2024

 

'New Light Prize Tour Exhibition'                                               Rheged Arts Centre, Penrith, CA11 0DQ   

14th March - 2nd June 2024

 

'New Light Prize Tour Exhibition'                                               The Biscuit Factory, Newcastle, NE2 1AN

29th June - 22nd September 2024

 

'New Light Prize Tour Exhibition'                                               The Mercer Art Gallery, Harrogate, HG1 2SA

12th October - 31st December 2024 

 

 'The Turning Point' Group Exhibition                                        32 Market Place, Preston, PR1 2AR

 

'The Royal Society of Marine Artists' 2024                                Mall Galleries, London

19th September - 28th September 2024     

Exhibitions 2023

 

'Chiaroscuro Exhibition'                                                            The Gallery Holt

8th April - 16th May 2023

 

MAFA Summer Exhibition                                                         The Crossley Gallery, Dean Clough, Halifax

17th June - 15th July 2023

 

'TALP Open 2023'                                                                     Patchings Art Centre, Notts

13th July - 13th August 2023

 

Guest Artist                                                                               Adrian Hill Fine Art, Stamford

August - December 2023

 

'Brushstrokes to Brands' Solo Exhibition                                 Museum of Brands, Notting Hill, London

5th August - 25th November 2023

Extended until 18th February 2024

 

'The Meditation of Drawing' MAFA Exhibition                          Manchester Cathedral

10th September - 12th October 2023

 

'RSMA Annual Exhibition 2023'                                               Mall Galleries, London

21st September - 30th September 2023

 

'New Light Prize Tour Exhibition'                                             Williamson Art Gallery, Birkenhead

30th September - 22nd December 2023

 

'Royal Institute of Oil Painters Annual Exhibition'                   Mall Galleries, London

29th November - 16th December 2023

 

'The Winter Exhibition'                                                           Contemporary Six, Manchester

16th November - 23rd December 2023

 

Exhibitions 2022

 

'Back in the City' Mixed Exhibition                                            Windermere Fine Art Gallery

22 April - 22 May 2022

 

'Euphoria' An Exhibition In Oils                                                 The Gallery, Holt, Norfolk

23 April - 21 May 2022

 

'The Lake District' Mixed Exhibition                                           Windermere Fine Art Gallery

1 June - 30 June 2022

 

'Summer Show' Mixed Exhibition                                              Windermere Fine Art Gallery

1 July - 23 July 2022

 

'Royal Society of Marine Artists Annual Exhibition'                    Mall Galleries, London

22 September - 1 October 2022

 

'Manchester Academy of Fine Arts (MAFA) Exhibition'             Stockport War Memorial Art Gallery

1 October - 18 November 2022

 

'Northern Connections' Group Exhibition                                 The Long Gallery, 4 King's St. Clitheroe

29 October - 20 November

 

'ING Discerning Eye' Annual Exhibition 2022                           Mall Galleries, London

12 - 21 November 2022

 

'Royal Institute of Oil Painters' Annual Exhibition 2022            Mall Galleries, London

24 November - 10 December 2022

 

'Winter Exhibition'                                                                    Contemporary Six Gallery, Manchester

December 2022

 

Exhibitions 2021

 

"10+1" Mixed Exhibition 2021                                                   Contemporary Six, Manchester                   

Dec 4th - January 2022

 

WFA Autumn Winter Mixed Exhibition                                       Windermere Fine Art                                   

October 2021 - Feb 2022

 

Royal Institute of Oil Painters                                                    Mall Galleries, London                               

 Nov 24th - December 5th 2021

 

Manchester Academy of Fine Arts 'All the Best' group exhibition       Dean Clough, Halifax                                         

October 30th - Nov 20th 2021

 

Royal Society of Marine Artists Annual Exhibition 2021            Mall Galleries, London                                 

Sept 30th - October 10th 2021

 

'The Northern Boys' Mixed Exhibition 2021                      Windermere Fine Art                             

July 31st - August 31st 2021

 

Manchester Academy of Fine Arts 'Art of Every day' group exhibition         Gallery Oldham                                     

18th May - 26th June 2021

 

Exhibitions 2020

Royal Society of marine Artists Annual Exhibition 2020            Mall Galleries, London.                                 

Sept 30th - October 10th 2020

 

"10" Mixed Exhibition 2020.                                                       Contemporary Six, Manchester                   

Nov 27th - Jan 2021

 

'The Northern Boys' Mixed Exhibition 2020.                               Windermere Fine Art.                                 

September 2020 - Jan 2021

 

 

Exhibitions 2019

Manchester Academy of Fine Arts Small Works exhibition.       The Whitaker Gallery, Rawtenstall.             

Dec 2019 - Feb 2020

 

Manchester Academy of Fine Arts Autumn Exhibition.              Stockport War Memorial Art Gallery.           

21st Sep 2019 - 1st Nov 2019 

 

Manchester Academy of Fine Arts Group Exhibition.                 The Atkinson Gallery, Southport.               

July 2019

 

The Northernboys Group Exhibition.                                  Contemporary 6 Gallery, Manchester.   

May 2019 

 

Busman's Holiday Exhibition.                                             Picture House, Padiham.                       

April 2019

 

 

Solo Exhibitions

Figurative Paintings.                                                          Whitewall Gallery, Chester.                    March 2014

        

Upcoming events

 

'Euphoria' an Exhibition in Oil                           The Gallery Holt, Norfolk                                                   

23rd April - 31st May 2022

 

'Back to the City' Exhibition                              Windermere Fine Art Gallery                                             

22nd April - 20th May 2022

 

'Lake District' Mixed Plein Air Exhibition           Windermere Fine Art Gallery                                             

1st June - 30th June 2022

 

The Northernboys                                             Gloucestershire Arts Festival                                             

29th July - 31st July 2022

 

'WFA Summer Exhibition' Mixed Oils                Windermere Fine Art Gallery                                             

1st July - 31st August 2022

 

MAFA Exhibition                                               Stockport War Memorial Art Gallery                                   

1st Oct - 18th Nov 2022

 

'North By Northwest'                                        Contemporary Six Gallery, Manchester

29 Oct - 20th Nov 2022