Simon Stevenson Talk
& Plein Air Buscot Park
July 2024
Talk by Simon Stevenson - wildlife artist - "African Wildlife”
Tuesday 9th July 2024, 2.00 - 4.00pm in the Pavilion
Thanks to Bob Marchant for writing this short report:
"Simon and Kate Stevenson's presentation "A Brush With Africa" was brilliant. We did not know what to expect and Simon reckoned that he had only done the talk a couple of times before. He proved to be an excellent speaker and began by telling us about his childhood living near Kilimanjaro. Their bungalow was separated from the bush only by their lawn. He spent hours observing animals and their habits by sitting quietly in trees.
Steven moved to England when he was 18 and pursued a boring career which he didn't talk about. He then took up painting using natural ochres and cold tea. He showed us his first piece which looked absolutely professional. When asked where he had learned drawing, Simon admitted that he had been sketching animals for as long as he could remember. After many requests for full colour paintings, Simon eventually "had a go" but only with Kate's help. It turns out that Steven is red/green colourblind and has to work with a colour swatch that Kate has produced. The couple are shortly to move to Australia to be nearer to their family."
A bit more about Simon's background extracted from his website:
Simon was educated in Tanzania, then Kenya and finally in England where he was to eventually settle in 1979, and where he now lives in the county of Shropshire with his wife Kate. It was here that he began to rekindle his deep rooted memories and love of Africa by painting and sketching these beautiful wildlife images. Being wholly self taught, he originally used the unusual medium of Tea and dry Ochre pigment. By using this medium, Simon managed to capture the colour, mood and shimmering beauty associated with this ancient but delicate land. It would appear that his beloved Africa has firmly etched itself into his soul.
2012 saw a new development in Simon’s artistic style with the introduction of the medium of Chalk and Charcoal on black pastel paper in the form of animal specimen sketches. However, in 2018 he further developed his style, despite being colour blind (Deuteranopia), and began to sketch images using the medium of Pastels. Many of these sketches are currently displayed as reproduction canvas images in a number of wildlife lodges throughout Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Uganda and South Africa.
Originals in all three of his styles have become much sought after and now adorn the walls of many private collectors worldwide. Both originals and limited edition prints are available for purchase through his extensive website. He has completed many private commissions for existing and new clients and continues to do so.
To see Simon's work visit A Brush with Africa
Some photographs from the talk and from Simon's website:
Plein Air Painting Day
Monday 15th July 2024, 10.00am - 4.00pm at Buscot Park
Once again Lord Faringdon kindly agreed to the Society using the grounds of Buscot House for a painting day. This was on Monday 15th July. Coffee and tea were available to make drinks as needed in the kitchen. The cafe was not open so members brought their own picnic lunch. The local Photographic Society were invited to join us for the day.
Bob Marchant wrote:
"Sadly the painting day at Buscot Park was rather wet. By the time we had had a look around and taken a few photos it started raining so we retired for coffee. It cleared up after a bit and folk started work but it soon began to rain again so it was back inside for an early lunch. There were about a dozen members and four members from the Photographic Society. We didn't see his Lord Faringdon on this occasion.
Some photographs taken on the day ...
