Stephen Waterhouse - Taking centre stage

I've been off on a jaunt again, I tell you what my travel wash bag and portable male grooming trimmer hasn't seen this much action in years!

This time I've been hot stepping on the streets of Darlington, More specifically The Darlington Library, This particular book filled emporium is also home to the sublime Crown Street Gallery.

 I was up north once again to see old Book Sniffer chum Stephen Waterhouse who happens to be displaying his wonderful work. 

"smart / casual"

Stephen was looking super-dapper and ubercucumbercool waiting to meet and greet all his guests. He was full of his usual Northern cheer and promptly invited me to ponder over his eye-bogglingly wondrous display of books and artwork.

Adorning the walls are selected works dating back over Stephen’s prolific career thus far. An impressive array of imagery from initial concept through to finished product.

From the completely addictive swarm of thumbnail sized pencil sketches to the huge and beautifully coloured paintings and prints available Stephen works comfortably at all sizes and his palette is a lush combination of bright colour. 

Also worth noting is his leap from traditional painterly approach to his now preferred method of computer generated art. Something he has adapted to very comfortably.

Stephens new Pop-Up Atlas published by Templar books and available to purchase here is displayed finely in its finished form along with supporting working drawings and artworks. 

It’s interesting to see this work backed up and sitting alongside his own travel sketches and paintings which were completed on his own personal journeys around the globe. Whether it’s his huge panoramic view from the dizzy heights at Chamonix or a study of the Colloseum in Rome, it adds another dimension to Stephens approach to his subject.

And as if that wasn’t enough, also on display were Stephen’s very own picture books, a handful (pawful) of beautifully illustrated books of collected stories and his much admired advent calendar designs for the Divine Chocolate Company.

http://www.divinechocolate.com/shop/christmas-chocolates

Thanks to the wonderfully talented and uber-cool Stephen Waterhouse for asking us along and if you get chance, do pop in. It’s on for the next three weeks.

http://www.darlington.gov.uk/Children/LibraryLearning/Library+Service.htm

This exhibition is a display of work that pulls the viewer in and wont let go of you until you’ve pored over every minute detail. I must say, it makes very satisfying viewing indeed.

Visit Stephens website here ...

Toot Toot Stephen, Hope to see you again soon! 

With spesh thanks to Chris Mould for the inspiration and images