I'm a professional artist with studios based at my home and in Belfast's Cathedral Quarter, concentrating on the beautiful, but difficult, medium of Watercolour. Attempting to "push the boundaries" of how the medium is perceived and appears. Everthing you see is 100% artist quality transparent watercolour paint, made with brushes. I do not mix media.
The paintings are alive with colour and detail and focus on that which could generally perceived as drab, decaying, mundane, or overlooked. I rarely paint well known landmarks or tourist attractions. This is not "Olde Belfast". I have stood before and recorded everything I've ever painted.
An underlying theme is the effects of nature and decay on the built fabric of Belfast, Ireland, and Beyond. How age, neglect, vandalism and natural weathering have rendered once pristine surfaces into multi coloured and textured semi abstract artworks in themselves. Time and the Elements of Nature becoming its own Artist.
I've had many successful solo Exhibitions, most notably in Red Barn Gallery, Belfast, in February 2012, where a 30+ year "retrospective" of my work based in the Shankill area of Belfast was received with both critical acclaim and commercial success. I've also held solo Exhibitions in distinguished local venues such as the Linen Hall Library, Queen's University and The Ulster Hall in central Belfast. Shankill Road Library and An Culturlaan on the Falls Road have also hosted large solo exhibitions.
Work has also been included in many prestigious Group Exhibitions and is available in several local Art Galleries. Much work is held in private collections throughout Ireland and the UK. And abroad- in USA, Canada, South Africa Australia and New Zealand.
Please read my CV page for further details.
The work has been the recipient of several Awards, including “Tyrone Guthrie Centre Bursary Award, 2022 and "Best Watercolour" 2010 at Royal Ulster Academy. And "Best Townscape" at Ulster Watercolour Society, 2011.
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"Watercolourist Stephen Shaw is 'a forensic chronicler' of Belfast" - John Gray, Culture Northern Ireland
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PLEASE NOTE: The sizes quoted are that of the actual artwork. The dimensions can be sometimes twice these after the painting has been mounted and framed. Paintings can be sold unframed to facilitate postage and packing, if required. Please email for details. Prices do not include P&P.
Artworks can be delivered to your door, Free of Charge, within Northern Ireland.