Stephen Shankland (b.1971)
His paintings contain thoughtful figures usually wrapped up in a sense of narrative. Composition & draughtmanship as well as colour all contribute to the story that unfolds in each scene. Figures often gaze from their world with the story being readable in their eyes. Often the figures share the composition with objects that have symbolic relevance.

Biography
1971 Born in Irvine, Scotland
1989-1993 Gray's School of Art, Aberdeen
BA (hons) Design 1st Class
1994-1995 Gray's School of Art, Aberdeen
Master of Art & Design

Awards/Commissions
1996 Shell Expro Employees Award
1999 Series of 10 illustrations for limited edition 40 year old Glenfarclas
1999 Morrison Portrait Award, Commendation Award
2001 Gray's Former Students, Aberdeen Art Gallery, First prize
2004 BP Portrait Award, National Portrait Gallery, London First prize

Selected Exhibitions
Aberdeen Artists Society Exhibition, Aberdeen Art Gallery
Aberdeen Art Centre, Aberdeen
Royal Scottish Academy, Edinburgh
BP Portrait Award, National Portrait Gallery, London
Queens Road Gallery, Aberdeen
Blackheath Gallery, London
Rendezvous Gallery, Aberdeen
Tolquhon Gallery, Aberdeenshire
The Leith Gallery, Edinburgh

Books & Catalogues
1999 Entry in The Dictionary of Artists in Britain Since 1945, David
Buckman, Art Dictionaries Ltd, Bristol, England

Public Collections
Aberdeen Art Gallery