Stephen Shankland

STEPHEN SHANKLAND was born in Irvine in 1971.  After graduating from Gray's School of Art, Aberdeen, in 1993 with a BA (Hons) in Graphic Design and in 1995 with an MA in Art and Design, he worked in both Edinburgh and Aberdeen as a graphic designer.  He has carried out a number of commissions including a series of 10 illustrations for a limited edition 40 year old Glenfarclas whisky (1999).  He has gained a number of awards: Shell Expro Employees Award (1996) in the Aberdeen Artists' Annual Exhibition and a Commendation Award in the Morrison Scottish Portrait Award (1999) Edinburgh.  He was also included in the BP Portrait Award (1999). 

In 2000 he moved to a small coastal village in North East Scotland where he shares a studio with his wife, Kelly-anne Cairns.  Having previously been most interested in figure painting, he developed an interest in the land and sea around his home and now paints landscapes and seascapes as well as figures.  His paintings are compositional stories with light, colour and drawing being important to the storytelling.  

In 2004, Stephen won the prestigious BP Portrait Award for his painting, The Miracle, a portrait of Kelly-Anne with their son Connor who was born prematurely in 2003.  This award has enabled him to now paint full time.

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