Stephen Hopper: Exploring Welsh Landscapes and Contemporary Portraits
Stephen Hopper is an artist noted for his expressive landscape and portrait paintings. Born in Alnwick, Northumberland, he attended Liverpool Art School. He enjoyed a long and successful career in advertising and design. In 2016 he relocated to Wales and established his art studio in 2020.
Hopper’s artistic journey began in aviation through connections with the Royal Air Force. In 2021, his painting of the Battle of Loos won the ‘Best WW1 Painting’ category in the Guild of Aviation Artist’s annual exhibition.
A journey into Welsh landscape and portraiture
Hopper’s landscapes are evocative and expressionist in mood. Drawing on insights gained through countless outdoor experiences, there’s a gritty physicality to his work. Sometimes his more abstract paintings are woven with literary touchpoints and nuances. Throughout, his earthy colour palette contrasts with vivid primaries and deep shadows. The sense of place in his work feels spontaneous and timeless. Hopper’s inspiration comes direct from experience and the works of Turner, Samuel Palmer, Piper, Nash, Kyffin Williams and Roestenburg.
Hopper’s portraiture borrows insights from the personality of the sitter—or in the case of an historical portrait, their life and times. Painting from photographs is avoided where possible, as the end result lacks emotional connection.
In 2024, his historical portrait of Sir Henry Percy (Harry Hotspur) was unveiled in the Great Hall, Alnwick Castle, seat of His Grace the Duke of Northumberland and again at the Battlefield Church, Shrewsbury as part of the Battle of Shrewsbury commemorations.
Hopper has exhibited widely through the UK. From the Mall Galleries in London, the Imperial War Museum and RAF Museum, Cosford to the Shrewsbury Arts Trail, Willow Gallery and the Royal Cambrian Academy in Wales. For more news click here.
Find out more about commissioning an original work of art by Stephen Hopper
A bespoke work of art is enduring. Every Stephen Hopper painting is produced using only the finest available materials. If prints are required of the original work, these are invariably produced by Art4site, an award-winning, specialist art printer. This enables the original to be reproduced with the highest fidelity. The printer achieved a Platinum Studio certification from Hahnemühle in 2024, placing it among an elite group of printers worldwide.
It’s also important to remember that a commissioned work can commemorate something very special. Whether that’s a place, a person, an event or a significant time in someone’s life. What’s more, art’s value rarely decreases—on a personal level or as an investment. To find out more, please contact Stephen Hopper via the ‘Contact Me Here’ page (click here).
References
His work has been featured by a variety of national, regional and local media – both online and offline. These include Shires magazine, the Northumberland Gazette, Powys County Times, the Battlefield Trust Magazine, Welsh Country magazine and a Tottenham Hotspur football club programme.
Hopper has work in collections through the UK, Europe, the USA, Canada and New Zealand.