After a management career spanning 20 years, including a job as a production manager in a ceramic tableware plant producing 250,000 pieces a week and a state-of-the-art $12 million wall tile plant, Stephen Powell set his sights on an artistic future.

25 years had elapsed since high school with the ‘maths and science path’ putting an end to his art classes at the time. At age 40 he signed on for VCE Studio Art at a local high school and sat in with the kids. This first year of his artistic career resulted in VCE distinctions, a proposal from a leading publisher for an illustrated book and the sale of his first wildlife paintings.

This rapid rise has continued, with his sketches and paintings appearing in books, graphic displays, numerous environmental newsletters, an R.S.P.C.A. calendar and a feature article in Artist’s Palette magazine. His work has attracted awards at a number of exhibitions, including the prestigious Wildlife Art Society of Australasia.

His art is driven by the love of wildlife and the environment.

All of his paintings result from his personal experiences with his subjects and their habitat. His collection of thousands of film and 80,000 digital images and extensive video has been collected around Australia and in Africa, during his months of travel there. He has experienced sunrises on the Serengeti, Kruger National Park, Okavango Delta, Kakadu National Park, and other African and Australian national parks – too numerous to mention in detail. He has visited gorillas in Rwanda, been surrounded by herds of elephants, regularly visits lyrebirds, and has hands-on experiences with the rhinoceros and platypus. Stephen has captured images of the environment and hundreds of wildlife species along the way, from insects to rare and endangered creatures, including the Black Rhinoceros, African wild dogs, Helmeted Honeyeaters and Pangolin.

Stephen is a realist wildlife artist, whose images are sometimes misinterpreted as a mere copy of a photograph.

They are often, in fact, a collage that combines a collection of images of the creature and its surroundings. His work is guided by his wildlife experiences and observations, and aim to portray some of the essence of the creature – some sense of what draws him to them and the magic of a wild encounter. His painting gives others the opportunity to experience the encounters that make him smile, laugh, gasp and leave him awestruck.

His photographic images were initially for personal use as a visual diary and reference for his paintings. Driven by the overwhelming positive reaction to his photographs, he has now included them in exhibitions and is working on books that will feature his work. Stephen is an honorary member of the AWAF Artists Advisory Board and a member of the AWAF Ambassadors Council, is involved with the Wildlife Art Museum of Australia and has served as committee member of Wildlife Art Society of Australasia Inc. for seven years, dedicating part of his time to the role of secretary.

Stephen has tutored at numerous art festivals from the Grampians to Grafton, individual workshops and classes.

He’s shared his skills, knowledge and adventures on Artist – Photographer Guided African Safaris to South Africa and Tanzania, and is in demand as an experienced, motivational and exciting speaker. His presentations are backed by stunning art and photographs, and his expertise in business, art, photography, teaching and wildlife adventures. He tailors his presentations to suit his audiences, depending on whether they are from primary and secondary schools, community groups, art, photography, travel or other interest groups.

His presentations highlight the role of motivation, goal setting, marketing and management techniques in his art and photography career, that have facilitated his remarkable transition from production management in the ceramic industry to a successful wildlife artist photographer.