Born in 1959, Steven spent most of his early childhood in Llysfaen, a small, idyllic village in the hills of North Wales. An ideal place for an artist to grow up and the panoramic views of the surrounding landscape inspired him to sketch and paint. By the age of 10, he had won his first national painting competition. In 1975, he began studying at Wrexham Art College, and was lucky to be taught by one of the best artists in Wales, Keith Bowen. He passed courses in Graphic Design and Illustration with Distinction and a week after graduating, his painting of "Lady Diana" was chosen for a double page spread in Woman`s Realm. He then spent 4 years in London working as a freelance illustrator and was very fortunate to work with one of Britain`s best illustrators, Mike Vaughan. Steven worked for various clients including BBC Publications, Readers Digest, Collins Books, Daily Mail, Sunday Telegraph, Golf Monthly, TV Times, Barclays Bank, Lloyds Bank, Lancia Cars, Jaguar Cars, Start-Rite shoes, Wall`s ice cream and Securicor. He also completed 12 paintings for a BP Calendar and a film poster for "Christmas Carol" Steven became disillusioned with the illustration business and in 1985, he moved back to work as an artist in North Wales. He concentrated on painting in oils after being inspired by the French Impressionists and the Newlyn artists.