Stephen
Lees didn’t start out as an artist; he was a soldier who has
been all over the world. Whilst serving in Northern Ireland Stephen
unfortunately was badly injured and spent a year in hospital.
It was while in hospital with nothing much to do he first dabbled
with a paintbrush.
On leaving the army and with no career Stephen
found work in the building industry and eventually become a plasterer.
It was whilst working as a plasterer Stephen developed a similar
technique of painting on acrylics using a palette knife in
much the same way a plasterer uses his Trowel.
It was Stephen’s father and his wife Julie that
gave him the support and confidence to start
selling his work and with the permission of Bournemouth
council he made a start with a small marquee
in Bournemouth Square.
“It wasn’t
always easy”, Stephen says, “you have to be thick skinned sometimes,
some people can be very rude. I can remember when I first started,
two old ladies, much like the ones you used to see on those Dick
Emery TV shows, came right up in front of me and one said to
the other, “Who could possibly want to hang something like that
on their walls?”
Stephen’s dad said, “Remember son there has never been a statue
erected to a critic!”
Stephen has now become a success and his work is
much sought after. In November last year he opened his first
shop on the cobbles in Quay Street, Lymington. You’ll always
see him in his shop and just like French artists he actually
works in the shop.
Stephen has his own unique style; his paintings are abstract,
brightly coloured and uncomplicated. He uses acrylic paints and
applies them using a palette knife.
What I also
like about Stephen’s work is that he can personalises the artwork
for you. The one in the picture up above has the customer’s daughter’s
name, Imogen running down the side of the beach hut and it actually
only cost £45, which is not a lot of money for original artwork.
Recently Stephen tells me, he had a young girl with learning difficulties
come into the studio, he taught her to use the palette knife much
the same way as she would butter bread and together they painted
a picture of the Titanic.
Opening
times:
Mon, Wed, Fri, Sat & Sun 10am - 4pm
Closed Tue and Thu
