A few weeks ago, when we were looking for a photograph of Peter Stanaway, we came across an artist that he had a joint exhibition with last year, Steve Capper (b. 1944).

Capper has had a long and successful career as a painter as well as being an art teacher. He retired from the teaching profession in 1996; at the time, he had been head of the art faculty at a comprehensive school in Oldham. Since then, he has concentrated on pursuing his painting.

He has said of his style and composition:

My work is not a photographic image of a single place, but rather a composite of several places. I am attempting to capture the feeling and atmosphere of Saddleworth and the Pennines, focusing on the shapes and patterns formed by the clouds, fields and trees etc. My use of primary colours is to emphasise the forms created by these special landscapes. I have been painting still life pieces for over forty years since I came across the work of Picasso, Braque and Mattice. The format feels like an old friend and something I am comfortable with.

Steve Capper’s art is sold in a number of (mainly) Northern galleries including Ascot Studios, Gateway Galley, Red Rag Gallery and Trent Art.

By the way, we never found a photo of the elusive Stanaway!