STEVEN P SMITH ROI MAFA - BIOGRAPHY
Steven Phillip Smith was born in Preston, Lancashire, in 1974 and has been a full time artist since 1996 after studying Fine Art at Wigan & Leigh College and Middlesborough university.
Working in oils from direct observation, he captures everyday objects and places, traveling frequently for inspiration. His work has been shown in leading UK exhibitions, including the Royal Institute of Oil Painters Annual Exhibitions (ROI), The Royal Society of Marine Artists Annual Exhibitions (RSMA), The ING Discerning Eye and The New Light Prize Tour Exhibition and Summer Exhibition.
His solo exhibition 'Brushstrokes to Brands', was held at the Museum of Brands, Notting Hill (2023 - 2024).
In 2025 Steven was made a Full member of the Royal Institute of oil Painters (ROI).
He is a Full Member of Manchester Academy of Fine Arts (MAFA), where he has served on the council (2021 - 2024) and was appointed AGBI Steward in 2025.
Artist Statement
I work in oils, capturing the everyday world through direct observation, dividing my time between outdoor plein air painting and studio still life.
My subjects, whether objects I've collected or familiar places we may one day view with nostalgia, are chosen for the personal emotions and memories they evoke.
I hope that my paintings may offer future generations a glimpse into the past, showcasing the colours, textures and details of everyday life as vividly as I percieve them today.
Exhibitions 2025
'The New Light Summer Exhibition' The 1912 Mill at Sunny Bank Mills
8th July - 1th August 2025
'Voyages' Manchester Cathedral
3rd - 31st August 2025
'Unveiling The Unseen:
An Exhibition Of Hyperealism & Photorealism' Stephenson's Gallery, York
2nd - 21st September 2025
The RSMA Annual Exhibition' Mall Galleries, London
18th - 27th September 2025
'The Northern Boys' Stephenson's Gallery, York
14th October - 2nd November 2025
'The AGBI Stewards Exhibition 'TOUCHPOINT' 15 Churton St. Pimlico, London
6th November 2025 - 5th February 2026
'The ING Discerning Eye Exhibition' Mall Galleries, London
14th November - 23rd November 2025
'The ROI Annual Exhibition' Mall Galleries, London
27th November - 13th December 2025
Became a Full member of the Royal Institute of Oil Painters (ROI).
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
'Connections' MAFA Group Exhibition Stockport War Memorial Art Gallery
20th July - 13th 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
'The Royal Institute of Oil Painters 2024' Mall Galleries, London
28th Nov - 14th Dec 2024
Appointed AGBI Steward for Manchester Academy of Fine Arts (MAFA)
Became an Associate Member of the Royal Institute of Oil Painters (AROI)
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
Elected a Member of Manchester Academy of Fine Arts (MAFA)
Solo Exhibitions
'Brushstrokes to Brands' Museum of Brands, Notting Hill August 2023 - Feb 2024
Figurative Paintings. Whitewall Gallery, Chester. March 2014