Born in 1957, Stephen Lavis studied Illustration at Southampton College of Art and went on to enjoy a successful career as a book illustrator, working primarily in watercolours. His cover for TH White’s The Once and Future King was selected for The Best of British Illustration Annual and, most notably, he created the artwork for the covers of The Chronicles of Narnia novels by CS Lewis. Later he began both writing and illustrating children’s picture books including the Martha’s Farm series and the best selling Cock-a-doodle-doo! which has been translated into over 15 different languages.
In the mid-2000s Lavis changed direction to become a fine artist, choosing mainly to work in oils. Now living in South West Cornwall, Lavis became interested by the work of the British mid-century Modernists and the influence of artists such as William Scott can be seen in his work. Inspired by his studio overlooking Mount’s Bay, Cornwall, his paintings are developing with a conscious and knowledgeable understanding of where his own working ideas are based. He is particularly interested in the relationship between abstraction and figuration and is an Associate Member of the Penwith Society of Arts in Cornwall. His work has been exhibited in London, Norfolk, Cornwall and Bath and is held in private collections in the UK, Ireland, France and the USA.