Meet Shelley-Marie Stone, Landscape Artist
Discover more from Love Sheffield Newsletter
Meet Shelley-Marie Stone, Landscape Artist
Our coffee and chat, sat by the river, under a tree in Millhouses Park.
Today I had a wonderful meet up and chat with Shelley-Marie Stone - a friend from Love Sheffield.
An hour passed very quickly! I’ve asked Shelley-Marie to give us a little write up of her life and work below, and below that is a recording and description of our chat in the park, which I enjoyed immensely.
My name is Shelley-Marie Stone and I am a landscape artist living and working in Sheffield. I find great joy in capturing the beauty of nature and the old architecture of this city through my art. I believe it's important to record these places and scenes before they are changed or lost to time.
I’m fascinated by the history of John Ruskin, the Pre-Raphaelites, J.M.W. Turner, Francis Chantrey, and Llewellyn Jewitt. Their works have inspired my own work documenting the streets and buildings of Sheffield. Recently I finished a series of pen drawings featuring local sites that I will be turning into acrylic paintings.
Some of my Sheffield scenes are currently on display at the Cross Scythes pub on Derbyshire Lane. I also have the image of the old Pack Horse Bridge in Graves Park which was featured in The Sheffield Star just before the bridge was covered in cement by the city council.
In October, I will be participating in a group exhibition organised by Love Sheffield Artists which will showcase some of my latest Sheffield paintings. This event will be held at The Circle in the city centre. I'm excited to share these new pieces which I created en plein air this summer after competing in the Sky Arts Landscape Artist of the Year competition. The experience bolstered my confidence in painting outdoors and capturing the energy and emotion of natural scenery.
In addition to paintings, I make prints and drawings of Sheffield's nature and landscapes. Some have a slightly surreal quality and each has its own unique story. Both originals and prints are available for purchase on my website and at local craft fairs.
I also run a Facebook group called Artists in Sheffield where local creatives can connect. We have over 700 members and host meetups throughout the city. It's been rewarding to help foster a community for artists here.
You can follow my work and upcoming events on my website and social media accounts linked there. I hope this gives you a good overview of my artistic background and passions. Please feel free to contact me if you have any other questions!
Thanks for that Shelley-Marie! Here is an unedited recording of our chat in the park, with a summary below. I hope you enjoy listening in, and that it gives you a sense of connection with Shelley-Marie’s story.
Here is a summary of our conversation with timestamps:
Introduction (00:00:00 - 00:01:21) Shelley-Marie's Background (00:01:21 - 00:07:09)
The conversation begins with Brian and Shelley-Marie introducing themselves in Millhouses Park in Sheffield. Shelley-Marie shares her background, explaining that she moved from London to Sheffield during COVID-19. In London, she worked as a hairdresser but with salons closed during lockdown, she started painting as a creative outlet. Though she had always loved art, this was the first time she began selling her work. She started with pet portraits and portraits of children before expanding into landscape paintings of old buildings, driven by her interest in history.
Becoming a Professional Artist (00:07:09 - 00:15:56)
Shelley-Marie had her first art exhibition in London which sold out on opening night, connecting her with other artists who gave her advice to paint what she loves rather than doing commissions. This segues into a discussion about the challenges of transitioning from commercial work to being a full-time artist. Brian relates this topic to his own career change and talks about the threat of AI on creative fields. He sees parallels to his engineering work which improved efficiency but displaced workers. Brian poses thought-provoking questions about AI replicating art styles and wonders if economic incentives will lead artists to utilize AI rather than creating authentic, meaningful work.
Art From the Heart (00:15:56 - 00:22:13)
Shelley-Marie emphasizes the importance of creating art straight from the heart rather than for money or clients. Brian agrees and insists art should be about leaving a legacy. He advises imagining having all financial needs taken care of and then considering what art one would create just for its inherent meaning and value.
Signs and Coincidences (00:22:13 - 00:24:45)
The conversation explores serendipity as Shelley-Marie describes unusual coincidences that sparked her interest in art history, leading her to paint influential figures who had connections to places she had lived and worked. She remains open to signs from the universe guiding her path.
Family Background (00:24:45 - 00:25:17)
Both Brian and Shelley-Marie discuss the importance of human connection and empathy. Shelley-Marie shares how nature helped her through difficult times and inspired her art. Brian comments on how coming to Sheffield helped Shelley-Marie reconnect with her creativity in a way the London hustle did not.
Nature as Inspiration (00:25:17 - 00:30:32)
They explore the dangers of social media filters and censorship in how it stifles authentic self-expression. Shelley-Marie comments "You can decide your reality" in terms of interpreting strange experiences, with Brian agreeing people should be free to embrace their own truths. They discuss embracing the crazy rather than conformity.
Human Connections (00:30:32 - 00:38:40)
Shelley-Marie shares about her involvement in artist groups in Sheffield, her excitement about an upcoming exhibition showcasing her new, relaxed painting style, and her exploration of Sheffield for inspiration. Brian talks about the various Love Sheffield groups creating connections amongst people who share passions like art, heritage, and nature.
Social Media Filters (00:38:40 - 00:57:18) Crazy vs. Normal (00:57:18 - 01:02:40)
The conversation flows smoothly between many thoughtful perspectives on art, creativity, nature, technology, society, and what it means to be human. Both speakers come across as passionate, open-minded, and caring.
I hope you enjoyed this insight into Shelley-Marie Stone, our friend who is a passionate and successful local artist. Please let me know of any interesting and inspiring characters you think your friends would enjoy hearing in conversation.