The bold and striking structural forms present in Stephen Whatcott’s abstract paintings demonstrate instinctive, expressive mark making while still retaining a balanced composition.
Influenced primarily by punk rock and grunge music in his teens, followed later by jazz, his work centres on mood with the freedom of improvisation at its core. The serendipitous nature of the process therefore acts as a guide when composing his work.
The emotional impact of the image is always the primary focus of these paintings. Ranging from great, colossal walls of paint to more free-flowing expressive forms, they are built up in many textured layers with each layer referring to the marks made previously throughout the entire process. Composed largely instinctively, the paintings are physical, both in technique and presence, but ultimately attempt to communicate on an emotional level.
It is in the fundamental components of vitality, drive and feeling, the things that epitomise being alive, that are being conveyed in these pictures.
Stephen Whatcott is a self-taught artist based in the Cotswolds, UK, producing often minimalist paintings which occasionally spill out into more expressive or lyrical compositions.
With roots based in drawing, his work tends to utilise line and form. These largely monochrome abstract paintings explore solidity, texture and composition, often executed in a seemingly aggressive, or at least expressive, manner.
In 2015 Whatcott won the Painting category of the Secret Art Prize open art competition and in 2018 was shortlisted for the Rise Art Prize.
Whatcott is represented by various galleries and consultants based in London, Glasgow, the Cotswolds and Chicago. His work is held in private collections worldwide.
He lives with his wife and children in the same area where he grew up. It's beautiful.
CV
b. 1983, Cheltenham, UK
Lives and works in Hampton, Worcestershire, UK
Education
Self-taught
Solo Exhibitions
2018 Heikko, Curious Duke Gallery, London
Selected Group Exhibitions
2024 Heliac, Little Buckland Gallery, Broadway, Worcestershire
2024 Summertide, Little Buckland Gallery, Broadway, Worcestershire
2024 Fresh: Art Fair, Cheltenham (with Little Buckland Gallery)
2023 ART MATTERS 8, Galerie Biesenbach, Germany
2023 ART MATTERS 7, Galerie Biesenbach, Germany
2023 Affordable Art Fair, Battersea (Spring), London (with Caiger Art)
2022 Affordable Art Fair, Battersea (Autumn), London (with Caiger Art)
2022 Black Swan Arts Open 2022, Black Swan Arts, Frome, Somerset
2022 ART MATTERS 5, Galerie Biesenbach, Germany
2022 Affordable Art Fair, Battersea (Spring), London (with Caiger Art)
2021 Affordable Online Art Fair (with Caiger Art)
2020 A6 Murals Worldwide, a project by Lydia Wierenga, Netherlands
2020 Affordable Art Fair, Battersea (Spring), London (with Caiger Art)
2018 Winter, Highgate Contemporary Art, London
2018 Summer Group Show, Curious Duke Gallery, London
2018 The Big Mix, Highgate Contemporary Art, London
2017 The Secret Art Prize 2017, The Hoxton Hotel, Shoreditch, London
2017 Affordable Art Fair, Hampstead, London (with Curious Duke Gallery)
2017 Three100, No Format Gallery, London
2016 The Pastel Society Annual Exhibition 2016, Mall Galleries, London
2015 Mix 2, The Underdog Gallery, London
2015 Secret Art Prize - The Winners, Curious Duke Gallery, London
2015 The Pastel Society Annual Exhibition 2015, Mall Galleries, London
2014 The Curious Art-Pie Show, Curious Duke Gallery, London
2012 Open Exhibition 2012, Number 8 Gallery, Pershore
2011 OH! Oxford House, London
Bibliography & Features
2024 Aesence, “Bold And Minimalist Compositions” June 2024
2023 New Art Project Magazine 01, June 2023
2018 The Plus Paper, “Read between the lines” March 2018
Awards
2015 Secret Art Prize: Category Winner: Painting
2012 Number 8 Gallery Special Merit Award
