Following his graduation from the Leicester School of Art & Design, Steve began his career as an art director in London's advertising agencies, working alongside many of the leading creative figures of the early 1990s — a golden era for the advertising industry.
In 1995, Steve moved to Ireland to take up a position with a Dublin advertising agency. It was here, inspired by the beauty and ever-changing light of the Irish landscape, that he began to paint, initially at weekends. Seven years later, in 2002, he took the leap and became a full-time artist.
Since then, Steve’s paintings have been exhibited extensively in Ireland and the UK, including at the New English Art Club in London, the Royal Society of Marine Artists, the Royal Hibernian Academy in Dublin and the Royal Ulster Academy of Arts in Belfast. His work is held in private collections in Ireland, the UK, USA and Saudi Arabia. He has also held solo exhibitions at the Leinster Gallery and taken part in numerous group exhibitions.
Painting in the Open Air In recent years, Steve has become increasingly involved in the revival of the plein air movement — the tradition of painting directly from life in the open air.
For Steve, this approach is about capturing a fleeting moment: the changing light, atmosphere and colour of a landscape before it disappears.
“What makes this method so special is the challenge of trying to capture the light and colours of the subject while being outside, usually with just two to three hours to complete the painting. Having to make quick decisions on composition and brush strokes encourages spontaneity, often producing a painting that is fresh and impactful—something that would be very difficult to achieve in the studio.
This immediacy and spontaneity have become an important part of Steve’s style. His work has been recognised with numerous awards at Ireland’s leading plein air festivals, including prizes at the Dublin Plein Air Festival and Wexford’s Art in the Open Festival, where he has received bronze, silver and, most recently, gold.
In 2020, 2021, and 2025, the prestigious Plein Air Magazine annual art competition in America named Steve a finalist. In 2021, his painting Sandycove Summer was selected for the cover of Plein Air Magazine.
Today, Steve continues to paint full-time, drawn to the challenge of capturing the character of a place — its light, colour, atmosphere and sense of time — in a way that feels immediate and alive.
Own an Original If you see a painting that speaks to you, Steve would be delighted to hear from you. Whether you are looking to add an original painting to your home, searching for a special gift, or simply wanting to find out more about a particular work.