Gallery

Steve Parkes

Steve was born in 1943. His father went down with his ship in the Bay of Naples in 1944 and so with his mother and sister he went to live with his grandparents in East London. He disliked the boys’ school he went to and escaped to the art room at every opportunity. He was offered a place at Art School but, unfortunately, his mother could not afford to support him and so he went to work.

With the help of his uncle, a typographical designer, he got a job in an advertising agency as a junior/messenger. This was 1960 and ad agencies at that time were full of artists and writers – it was another world and he loved it. He was hooked on the world of advertising. He became an Art Director. He worked for Saatchi & Saatchi and moved with Maurice and Charles Saatchi when they split from that agency to form M&C Saatchi, where he became a Creative Director.

Around 1990 he felt the need to do some creative work for himself. So he joined a group at St Albans Art College, studying life drawing, painting and expression. He had developed a rather slick advertising style which he would use whatever the task, but his tutor soon saw through this and employed various techniques – drawing left-handed, with a twig dipped in ink etc – to help him develop his own style.

He was painting with no real theme but he had been working in Central London for over 40 years and loved the buzz, so it seemed natural to use London as his subject matter.

He retired from M&C Saatchi in June 2003, and is now able to devote his time to that which he loves most – painting.

	Piccadilly Tube oil on box canvas 60cm x 80cm £1400
	Wellington Arch oil on box canvas 60cm x 80cm £1400 sold
	No. 9 in Trafalgar Square oil on box canvas 60cm x 80cm £1400
	Queen Victoria Memorial oil on box canvas 60cm x 80cm £1400
	Sun Over Westminster oil on box canvas 60cm x 80cm £1400
	159 Leaving Piccadilly oil on box canvas 60cm x 80cm £1400 free delivery within UK mainland
	Southbank Pier oil on box canvas 60cm x 80cm £1400
	Two Girls & A Bike, Trafalger Square oil on box canvas 60cm x 80cm £1400 free delivery within UK mainland
	Rainy Day, Pall Mall oil on box canvas 60cm x 80cm £1400 free delivery within UK mainland
	Ludgate Hill oil on box canvas 60cm x 80cm £1400
	St Clement Danes oil on box canvas 60cm x 80cm £1400 sold
	Reflections Of The National Gallery oil on box canvas 60cm x 80cm £1400
	Silver Top Red Routemaster oil on box canvas 60cm x 80cm £1400
	Horse Guards Parade, Summer oil on box canvas 60cm x 80cm £1400
	The Cross Keys It is late afternoon in February and Harpenden has had a fall of snow. The sky is heavy, it is very cold, but the warm light coming from the Cross Keys is very inviting. Situated in central Harpenden, it is still a traditional English pub. original oil on box canvas 60cm x 80cm £1400 --------------------------- limited edition print image size 44 cm x 58 cm / 17”x 23” paper size 59 cm x 74 cm / 23”x 29” price £150
	The Harpenden Arms It is a quiet February afternoon in Harpenden and there is little traffic on the icy St Albans Road. Few people are braving the cold. Framed by snow-covered branches, the Harpenden Arms stands out against the Common. original oil on box canvas 60cm x 80cm £1400 --------------------------- limited edition print Image size 44 cm x 58 cm / 17”x 23” Paper size 59 cm x 74 cm / 23”x 29” Price £150