Stephen was born and brought up in Accrington in Lancashire. He studied at Essex University where he achieved a BA (Honours) in the Theory and History of Art. He is an elected full member of the guild of Railway Artists and has exhibited countrywide with them. 

He has taken part in various exhibitions both as a solo artist and with other artist’s throughout the country including the Upfront Gallery at Upton in the Forest, Blackburn Museum & Art Gallery and the Haworth Art Gallery in Accrington. 

Stephen has also undertaken several prestigious commissions including a ‘painting to celebrate the centenary of the Glasgow underground’ which is now in the Scottish National Collection at the Riverside Museum and a ‘Golden Jubilee Painting of the Ravenglass & Eskdale Railway Preservation Society.’