Stephen Howard

In his ‘Mitre Peak’, Howard has presented this formidable yet achingly beautiful feature of Milford Sound with streams of snow punctuated by darkened ridges. A palette of ice blues and greys is soothed and ripened through textural moss greens that stretch up the mountain, climbing higher as snow melts and gives way to the peak beneath. While line and tone describe the iconic shapes and crevasses of Mitre Peak, Howard’s abstraction within the body of the cliff face emphasises a surreal sense of movement; as though smooth winds are swirling yet contained within each craggy facet.

Working diversely within a broader abstract methodology, Stephen Howard’s nonrepresentational compositions of landscapes are paired with a precise handling of colour, light, and fine detail, imbuing his paintings with a colliding sense of tension and expression. His sensitive understanding of a vibrant palette in oils creates a luminosity that emphasises his true subjects – light and movement.

View full bio