This spring, Whitewater Contemporary brings you the latest collection of work by Simeon Stafford. Over his 40 year career, Simeon has established himself as one of the UKs most recognised artists, known for his high-energy paintings of unique places and their bustling communities, as well as his lively portraits and still-life works. This collection is largely inspired by the beaches and harbours of the North Cornwall coast, including a show defining large-scale work depicting a fictional funfair on Polzeath beach.
Stafford was born in Manchester in 1956, and as a child was introduced to celebrated painter L.S. Lowry who became a friend of the family and encouraged him to study art. He went on to study at Hyde College and in 1974 became a professional artist, exhibiting works that reflected the gritty northern landscape in what has been called a Primitive style. In 1996 Stafford moved to Cornwall where he met artists Terry Frost and Patrick Heron. Their influence, as well as that of Lowry's, is evident in Stafford's simple figures, densely populated scenes, and uplifting palette of rainbow colours. He has exhibited at the Royal Academy, and his work is held in numerous public and private collections, including that of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.
