About the artist:
Scottish artist Stuart regularly hits the headlines with his Pop Art paintings. Fusing cartoons with themes of idealism and consumerism, his multilayered artworks blend the past with the present through layers of figurative imagery, text and symbols. His newest release, Revelations: A Portrait of Magic, depicts the central characters of J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter series.
Stuart's spectral style has been described as ‘supernatural realism’ by the BBC and Radio 2 art critic Estelle Lovatt, who also praised its 4D aesthetic, adding that he has 'one of the most creative minds in art today'. Using subtle tones of paint, he creates the illusion of transparency. The overall effect is similar to looking through a glass bottle, distorting the image and presenting a different version of the same subject. In turn, a far-fetched reality is created, highlighting the unrealistic expectations of today’s society.
Previously commissioned by Paul McCartney, Stuart has worked with brands including the BBC, McVitie's, Persil, Renault and Virgin. As the current artist-in-residence at the Kimpton Charlotte Square Hotel and a former artist-in-residence at The Savoy in London, Stuart has also enjoyed successful exhibitions and commissions in New York, Italy and Hong Kong.
He is an admirer of Old Masters such as Caravaggio and Hieronymus Bosch, but is particularly inspired by the leading founder of the Pop Art movement, Andy Warhol, explaining: “Warhol’s views on mass consumerism and the way he translated these into his art is something I really relate to. I hope my art does something similar and stands the test of time.”
Past collections include A Time For Reflection: The Savoy Suite, which featured in the ITV documentary The Savoy in 2020. Offering a unique insight into the hotel's patrons - including Alfred Hitchcock, Marilyn Monroe and Charlie Chaplin - the pieces take viewers on a tour behind its doors and into the lives of Hollywood's great. This popular release was followed by Lost Lives//Split Personalities, which depicts some of history's most famous musicians and includes a virtual exhibition.
