WINNER
Retail Art Gallery of the Year
Stephen Simpson
Born in Stockton-on-Tees, Stephen Simpson lives and works in Middlesbrough. Stephen’s signature work revives classical floral art, but with a contemporary twist—bold textures, high-gloss layers, and compositions that blur the line between two-dimensional painting and three-dimensional sculptural form. His work is meant to elicit a sense of hope, joy, and positivity, especially during challenging times.
In interviews, Stephen shares that his creative process evolves over time - initially rooted in structured studio hours, but later driven by “being in the zone,” often working on multiple paintings simultaneously until stroke-filled inspiration fades.
He once collaborated with Armani, presenting an art‑meets‑fashion exhibition in their Glasgow and Manchester flagship stores - an exciting venture into the fashion world that was very well received.