Artist Statement

Award winning pastel paintings in contemporary style inspired by the landscapes of the Peak National Park. Hill tops and open moorlands, woodlands and wild places provide rich sources of inspiration for light-filled paintings suffused by natural light and colour.

I feel very much at home walking in the Peak District and love being outdoors in all seasons surrounded by the natural environment. My inspirations are seasonal changes, expressive skies and transient effects of light and shade. Light in the landscape energizes and uplifts, and can convey a powerful sense of hope and renewal. Our environment is undergoing dramatic change and I want to celebrate what we have whilst it’s there.

In the studio I experiment with different ways of using pastel and combining it with other media. My aim is to find visual harmonies and unifying elements in a natural world undergoing dramatic change, whilst also seeking expressive images that will resonate with the viewer.

I take lots of photos while out walking, and work with images directly from a monitor as well as improvising from memory and imagination. I work predominantly with Unison soft pastels, charcoal, and acrylic inks on a variety of grounds - eg. Pastelmat, Sennelier, Sanders-Waterford textured water colour paper and Colourfix. Each type of paper elicits a different response and encourages different stylistic treatments. Framed sizes range from 25cm to around a meter or so in width.

I am an active member of Peak District Artisans, a highly successful association of professional artists and designer makers, and exhibit regularly at PDA group exhibitions. My pastel originals, prints and cards are also for sale at other art fairs and events in the region (see www.steveelliott.net for details) and by appointment at the artist’s home and studio, where visitors are welcome to browse at leisure.