Steve Stokes, 66, has lived in Penarth for around 25 years and has always painted alongside his career running a handmade kitchen business.
He studied at art college in Liverpool in the 1980s and has continued to paint ever since, working mainly from life rather than photographs.
His debut exhibition was held at Llanover Hall Arts Centre in Cardiff, where he has been a regular at life drawing sessions since moving to the city in 1990, earlier this year.
Stephen describes himself as a figurative painter strongly influenced by artists such as Matisse, Van Gogh, and Monet, and by the period of painting before the Second World War.
He says he is more interested in colour and atmosphere than abstraction, and that viewers of his work have told him they can see the tradition of painting and his influences in his work without it being pastiche.
To take part in the Cowbridge Open Arts Competition, Mr Stokes entered three oil paintings.
The piece that won him second place was a still life portrait of himself in the background of a mirror, titled ‘Self Portrait with Lillies.’ He also submitted a painting of roses and another still life based in a studio.
Mr Stokes told the Penarth Times that the painting of roses held a personal meaning, as the flowers were ones he had bought his wife for their anniversary – and so the painting was one he held close to his heart.
He said: “When you paint, you’re more involved with the painting that you’re doing and there’s bits that you enjoy doing.
“I really enjoyed painting it and people said it was a bit more dynamic and led you into it.”
With this being Mr Stokes’ first competition, the win was a welcome surprise.
He said: “As I’ve never entered a competition and never won anything, it was really nice.
“I thought they were phoning me up to tell me that there wasn’t enough room to hang these big paintings.
“I was quite shocked.”
Those who wish to see Mr Stokes’ upcoming work will be able to attend exhibitions at Penarth Pier in September and the Old Hall in Cowbridge in December.
