A HEYSHAM scaffolder and global selling artist whose work has been compared to David Hockney and Francis Bacon is exhibiting in Lancaster.
Steve Harris is an exceptionally talented artist yet so modest and down-to-earth that he has never given up his job as a scaffolder despite worldwide success.
Steve is now showing his work at Gallery 23, which is based in the Arteria gift shop in Lancaster.
The Shine exhibition is a collection of mostly North West artists covering painting, photography, prints, ceramics and glass, textiles and jewellery.
Steve, who is self-taught, started painting over 20 years ago when he was laid off at work. Then when he was carrying out a scaffolding job for an ex-art lecturer, he was advised to set up a website and try to sell his work.
He posted up two paintings onto the internet, they were spotted by art critics in America who published reviews which compared Steve to modern art pioneers Hockney and Bacon.
Steve soon found that his website was getting 24,000 hits a day and he soon had work hanging in galleries from New York to Barcelona.
“We are hugely delighted to be hosting Steve’s work at our gallery,” said Jane Richardson, managing director at Gallery 23.
“He epitomises the endearing qualities of being incredibly talented without being affected by just how prestigious and sought after his work is.
“We feel his presence in the gallery will offer visitors the opportunity to view art by a locally based artist that is globally recognised. We couldn’t be more excited.”
The Shine exhibition runs until October 15. For more infromation please call 01524 61111.