About

Born in Maidstone, Kent and currently based in Manchester. Steve Whitewood is a figurative painter working predominantly with a combination of oil and acrylic paint. The contextual theme that runs through his current practice is the art world and the awkwardness and superficiality of events such as private views and art fairs. Through the medium of paint he analyses this notion and presents the stereotypical figures that you may see at these events within a formalist, abstract setting. Whitewood places focus on colour combinations that are inspired by architecture, interior design and elements he picks out of his environment day to day; and paints his subjects in a loose, expressive way while still implementing traditional painting techniques. This turns them into characters navigating the space and shines a light on the people over the art that would usually be surrounding them, which urges the viewer to examine how they may present themselves in these scenarios as well as poke fun at an environment that always seems a little awkward and at times pretentious. Whitewood has previously dealt with themes such as identity, subculture, derelict buildings and brutalist architecture all of which are subjects that he has been intrigued by and keen to know more about at one time. He has then used his painting practice to explore subjects of interest to him and then convey’s ideas and theories about them.