Stephen Todd
Stephen is a Sheffield based artist working across painting, drawing and photography. His
work has a strong sense of mark making often incorporating text, whether legible or not.
“Painting is a physical process for me and needs to explore the characteristics of the tools
and materials used. It needs to show the strokes of the brush, the lines of the pen and the
fluidity of paint”
His influences include the watercolours of JMW Turner; the war paintings and landscapes of
Eric Ravilious, Paul Nash and John Piper; the lead ships and landscapes of Anselm Keifer,
to name but a few.
"How we look at the landscape determines how we internalise it"
Ultimately his work attempts to be strong, visual and aesthetic in quality.
Brief Biography
Stephen studied fine art at Sheffield Hallam University and has shown work regularly across
the region and beyond.
He has received several awards to undertake research and show work including Year of the
Artist and Arts Council awards.
He shows work regularly at the Cupola Gallery, Sheffield and has representation online by
the New Blood Art.
Summary of Solo Shows
2000 - Cupola Gallery, Sheffield
2001 - Clifton Park Museum, Rotherham – Roman Rig
2004 - Bloc Gallery, Sheffield – Presentation of Facts
2004 - Cupola Gallery, Sheffield
2007 - Derby Museum and Art Gallery - Show of Evidence
2008 - Cupola Gallery – Restless Nature
2009 - The Circle, Sheffield
2011 - Cupola Gallery – Angel of History
2013 - Sheffield Fringe – Light Touch
2014 - Cupola Gallery – Land as Disquiet
2017 - Beverley Museum and Art Gallery – Humber Estuary: Changing Views
2019 - The Ropewalk – Humber Estuary: Inner Landscapes
2020&21 - Cupola Gallery – Fact from Fiction
2025 - Gallery at SALT, Beverly - Inland : Outland
2026 - Cupola Gallery – And Quiet Flows the Don
Other recent shows:
- Harrison Lord Gallery, Brighouse
- Art Café Gallery, Whitby
2021 + - Kentmere House Gallery, York
2022 + - Dovecot Gallery, Doncaster
2022&24 - Harley Open, Harley Gallery, Welbeck
2020&21&23 - Ferens Open, Ferens Gallery, Hull
2021 - New English Art Club Annual Show, Mall Galleries, London
2023 - INGS Discerning Eye, Mall Galleries, London
2025 - Royal Watercolour Society Open, Bankside Gallery, London
- Royal Academy Summer Show, RA, London
2026 - Royal Watercolour Society Open, Bankside Gallery, London
Websites: www.stephen-todd.com
https://newbloodart.com/artist/stephen-todd
And Quiet Flows the Don
Stephen Todd
2 May - 30 May
“The River Don rises in the Southern Pennines. Its waters flow through Sheffield and
South Yorkshire to be consumed by the Humber Estuary and lost in the North Sea.
The river is both an observer and participant in the landscape and our histories. A
force that acts and records.
This show has given me the opportunity to draw a direct path from my home city of
Sheffield and the brooks and rivers so near to home, up to the Humber Estuary, a
place where I have found much inspiration over the years.
Through walking and exploring, sketching and recording, paintings emerge.
The show title “And Quiet Flows the Don” knowingly references the classic novel by
Mikhail Sholokhov set in the early 20 th century. A time of conflict, revolution and
overthrow by force. This Don flows into the Sea of Azov and the Black Sea, through
Cossack lands that include the Donbas. Again, a region of pain, abuse of force and
conflict.
This is a very different history to contrast with “our” River Don, and yet strangely
entwined. Sheffield twinned with Donetsk in 1956 when it was called Stalino. It lies
on the river Donets, a tributary of the Don. A region with a shared industrial heritage
through iron and steel and coal.
Through all this a river drives its path. How can such a force be so quiet?”
Stephen Todd
Thanks to:
- Simon Ogden for his immensely informative walks along the Don. A walking
encyclopaedia of history and land ownership of the Sheffield Rivers.
- The Cupola Gallery for the opportunity.