Calum Stevenson (b. 1997, Falkirk, Scotland) is a Scottish painter whose work explores movement, light, and the human form. He graduated with a BA(Hons) in Fine Arts from Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art & Design in 2019 before earning an MA in Fine Art Practice from the Glasgow School of Art in 2020. Stevenson gained national recognition in 2021 when he became the youngest and first Scottish artist to win Sky Portrait Artist of the Year, a prestigious televised competition. His winning commission, a portrait of world-renowned violinist Nicola Benedetti, now resides in the Scottish National Portrait Gallery’s permanent collection in Edinburgh. His work has since been acquired by public and private collections, including The Oval in London and The Civic Collection for Glasgow’s City Chambers. Rooted in figurative painting, Stevenson’s practice often involves collaborating with dancers to explore the energy and spontaneity of movement. His expressive brushstrokes, bold colour and dynamic compositions, depict fleeting moments that balance realism with a painterly atmosphere. Through his work, he reflects on the relationship between the body and its surroundings, translating personal experience into evocative visual scenes and narratives.
Calum’s latest work extends his exploration of the figure, light, and movement. ‘Guiding Light’, a key piece from his previous series, serves as a bridge to these new works, where figurative elements dissolve into colour-filled cityscapes. In ‘City Embers’ 1 to 4, Stevenson draws from found images and imagination to craft scenes that capture the fleeting glow of urban life. These smaller works embrace expressive mark-making and luminous colour to suggest figures immersed in the afterglow of a city at night. This series marks the start of a new body of work exploring Scottish cityscapes, a continuation of past themes but also a step toward new possibilities. While rooted in his sensitivity to light and movement, these paintings expand his exploration of human experience, narrative and perception.
